Vanilla Vodka Christmas Cake Food

MAKE & MATURE CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• Put 1kg mixed dried fruit, the zest and juice of 1 orange and 1 lemon, 150ml brandy or other alcohol, 250g softened butter and 200g light, soft brown sugar in a large pan set over a medium heat.
• Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 mins. Tip the fruit mixture into a large bowl and leave to cool for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Line a deep 20cm cake tin with a double layer of baking parchment, then wrap a double layer of newspaper around the outside - tie with string to secure.
• Add 175g plain flour, 100g ground almonds, ½ tsp baking powder, 2 tsp mixed spice, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, ¼ tsp ground cloves, 100g flaked almonds, 4 large eggs and 1 tsp vanilla extract to the fruit mixture and stir well, making sure there are no pockets of flour.
• Tip into your prepared tin, level the top with a spatula and bake in the centre of the oven for 2 hrs.
• Remove the cake from the oven, poke holes in it with a skewer and spoon over 2 tbsp of your chosen alcohol. Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin.
• To store, peel off the baking parchment, then wrap well in cling film. Feed the cake with 1-2 tbsp alcohol every fortnight, until you ice it.
• Don't feed the cake for the final week to give the surface a chance to dry before icing.

VANILLA VODKA CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• Put dried fruit and cherries in a bowl and add the vodka. Soak for at least 3 hours but preferably overnight.
• Grease and line an 8" cake tin.
• Preheat oven to 150C
• Cream together the butter and sugar. Gradually add beaten eggs. Add flour and nuts.
• Tip in fruit with any remaining liquid and stir well.
• Pour mix into cake tin
• Bake for 3 and 1/2 hours or until a skewer comes out clean.
• Marzipan and ice once cooled or keep and feed regularly with more vanilla vodka.
• Enjoy!!!

CHRISTMAS PUDDING VODKA

Steps:

• Sterilise a 1.5-litre preserving jar. Tip the dried fruit, citrus zests, sugar, spices and vanilla pod into the jar.
• Pour half the vodka into the jar. Seal the lid, then turn the jar upside-down and give it a good shake to evenly distribute the sugar. Remove the lid and add the remaining vodka, the brandy and amaretto.
• Re-seal the jar and store in a cool, dark place, turning or shaking it once a day for the first week. After two to three weeks, strain the vodka through a sieve lined with coffee filter papers or a clean kitchen cloth. Use the soaked fruit in festive bakes such as a fruit cake, pudding or mincemeat.
• Decant the strained vodka into sterilised bottles and label. The vodka will keep well for about two years, but the flavour will be best in the first six months.

HOMEMADE VANILLA

Steps:

• Submerge vanilla beans in vodka and store in a cool, dark place for several weeks, shaking occasionally.