Christmas cake

British   Dessert

1/2 tsp Levure chimique
200g Beurre
4 Beaten Œufs
50g Amandes moulues
Grated zest of 1 Citron
200g Sucre Muscovado
200g Farine nature
1/2 tsp Extrait de vanille
100g Noix de pécan
250g Raisins
250g Groseilles
85g Cerise glacée
85g Écorces confites
100ml Xérès
1 ½ tbsp Eau de rose
1 ½ tbsp Mélange d'épices
  1. Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Line the base and sides of a 20 cm round, 7.5 cm deep cake tin. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric hand mixer for 1-2 mins until very creamy and pale in colour, scraping down the sides of the bowl half way through. Stir in a spoonful of the flour, then stir in the beaten egg and the rest of the flour alternately, a quarter at a time, beating well each time with a wooden spoon. Stir in the almonds.
  2. Mix in the sherry (the mix will look curdled), then add the peel, cherries, raisins, cherries, nuts, lemon zest, spice, rosewater and vanilla. Beat together to mix, then stir in the baking powder.
  3. Spoon mixture into the tin and smooth the top, making a slight dip in the centre. Bake for 30 mins, then lower temperature to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2 and bake a further 2-2¼ hrs, until a skewer insterted in the middle comes out clean. Leave to cool in the tin, then take out of the tin and peel off the lining paper. When completely cold, wrap well in cling film and foil to store until ready to decorate. The cake will keep for several months.