Celebration Fruit Cake

Line the base and sides of the cake tin with baking parchment and set to one side. Mix the fruit and peel in a bowl, stir in the citrus zest, juice and fortified wine. Cover and leave to soak overnight. Pre-heat the oven to 170°C/150°C fan/Gas Mark 3.

Cream the butter and sugar together in a large bowl; beat in the eggs one at a time. To prevent curdling add 1- 2 tablespoons of the flour after the addition of the first 2 eggs.

Sift in the flour with the spices, add the ground almonds and mix well. Stir the soaked fruit into the mixture and combine.

Pour the cake mixture into the tin, smooth over the top and make a small well in the centre. The well will ensure a flat top to the cake.

Cook for 30 minutes at 170°C/150°C fan/Gas Mark 3. Reduce the oven temperature to 140°C/120°C fan/Gas Mark 1. Continue cooking for 3 to 3½ hours. Cover the cake lightly with a piece of aluminium foil for the last hour of cooking to prevent over browning.

Turn the cake tin two or three during cooking to ensure even baking. Test to see if the cake is done by inserting a skewer into the centre, it should come away cleanly.

Cool the cake in the tin. Release the springform clip and lift the side of the tin away then remove the cake from the base. Wrap in baking paper and foil, store in a cool dry place to mature.

Cook's Notes

For a marzipan and iced cake you will need 2 x 500g blocks of ready-made marzipan and 2 x 500g blocks of ready-made fondant icing to cover the whole cake.

To cover the top only reduce the amounts by half.

Brush the whole cake with apricot jam before coating in marzipan and brush the marzipan in a little water before applying the icing.

For a simple non-iced finish decorate the top of the cake with blanched almonds before baking.