Golden Jewelled Christmas Cake Food

JEWELLED FRUIT, NUT & SEED CAKE

Steps:

• Make the Hot toddy cake (see link, right) in a loose-bottom tin, holding back about 2 tbsp of the mix for later. While it bakes, bake the fruit and nut topping. Melt the butter and golden syrup together, then toss with the nuts, dried fruit and seeds. Set aside; the butter mix will start to cool and thicken.
• Take the cake out of the oven 30 mins before the end of cooking, then gently spread over the remaining cake mix with the back of a spoon. The cake will still be quite soft but will take the weight, don't worry about it sinking. Scatter the fruit and nut mix over the top in an even layer. Bake for the remaining 30 mins until the cake is cooked and the nuts golden. Test for doneness by poking a skewer through the topping and into the cake. If it's underdone, but the nuts are golden, just cover with foil and give it another 10 mins; then test again.
• Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin, so that the nutty topping firms up. Loosen any obviously sticky edges, then push the cake out of the tin from the bottom. Transfer to a cake board or plate and fix the ribbon around the base before serving. Can be kept in an airtight tin for up to a week.

JEWELED FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°. Line four greased and floured 5-3/4x3x2-in. loaf pans with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside., In a large bowl, combine dates, nuts, cherries and coconut. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; stir into fruit mixture until well coated., In a small bowl, beat eggs and vanilla until foamy. Fold into fruit mixture and mix well. Pour into prepared pans., Bake 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Wrap tightly and store in a cool, dry place. Cut with a serrated knife.

GOLDEN JEWELLED CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• Line a 20cm greased cake tin with a double layer of baking paper. Preheat oven to 150c.
• Chop apricots, quarter cherries, chop candied peel.Mix together with the brandy.
• In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar using a hand held mixer, or a wooden spoon until light and fluffy.
• Beat eggs in a jug add to the creamed mixture a little at a time , beating well after each addition. Don't worry if it curdles, the cake wont be affected.
• Add the zests and juice, then the soaked fruit and liquid. Chop nuts then stir in .
• Set a sieve over the bowl , tip flour, cinnamon and ginger and sift into bowl.
• Tip in the ground almonds, then fold everything in using a large spoon.There should be no trace of flour.
• Spoon cake mix into the prepared tin, press down lightly and smooth. Bake 45minutes- 1 hour, reduce heat to 120C and bake a further 1-2 hours until golden brown and firm to the touch and has stopped making a hissing sound ( singing). A skewer should come out clean.
• Wrap in baking paper and foil for up to 3 months or freeze for 1 year.
• Feeding the cake: make several holes in it and spoon 2 tbsp of brandy at weekly intervals until ready to ice.

GOLD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8 inch round pans.
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.
• Cream butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl. Add egg yolks and vanilla; beat until fluffy. Add milk to butter mixture in 2 parts alternately with flour mixture in 3 parts, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Spread in prepared pans.
• Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until an inserted wooden pick comes out clean.

GOLDEN CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 15 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. In a separate bowl, beat together egg yolks and egg white. Beat the egg mixture into the butter and sugar.
• In a separate bowl, sift together flour and baking powder. Stir flour into egg mixture alternately with milk. Stir in almond and vanilla extracts. Pour batter into prepared muffin cups.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean.