James Martin Rich Fruit Cake Recipes

RICH FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• The night before, pour 75ml of the brandy over the fruit, cover and leave to sit, letting the fruit soak up the alcohol.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Line a deep, 25cm square cake tin with a double layer of baking parchment, then wrap a double layer of newspaper around the outside, so that it comes about 2.5cm above the sides of the tin, and secure with string.
• Sift the flour, spices, cocoa powder and ½ tsp salt together. Mix a third of this mixture into the soaked fruit. Cream the butter, zests and sugar until light and fluffy, stir in the treacle, then beat in the eggs one at a time. Fold in half the remaining flour mixture. Once mixed, fold in the fruit mixture followed by the remaining flour mixture.
• Spoon into the prepared tin, smoothing the top with a palette knife. Bake in the centre of the oven for 2 hrs 30 mins, checking the cake with 15 mins to go. When a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean, it's ready.
• Leave to cool in the tin for 30 mins then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely. To store, peel off the baking parchment, poke holes into the cake and feed with the remaining brandy. Wrap well in cling film. Will keep for three months.

JAMES MARTIN''S FRUITED IRISH TEA LOAF

Steps:

• Put all the dried fruit into a bowl, add the sugar and pour over the hot tea, stir well then cover and leave overnight to infuse.
• Preheat the oven to 170°C/gas mark 3 and lightly grease a 1kg loaf tin, then line it with baking parchment. The butter will help you to do this by making it stick. Roughly chop the walnuts, add them to the fruit and stir well.
• Whisk together the eggs and double cream, then stir in the fruit. Sift the flour into the mixture and stir well with a large wooden spoon until it is well combined.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and spread the top as flat as you can. Bake in the middle of the oven for 70 - -80 minutes, until the top springs back when lightly pressed. Check if the cake is cooked by inserting a clean skewer or knife into the centre - if it comes out clean, the cake is ready. If not, bake for a further 10 minutes and check once more.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool before removing from the tin and leaving to cool completely on a wire cooling rack. Serve in slices, buttered, on its own and or with some jam, such as strawberry.

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.