CHRISTMAS THINGS.....Cherry Cranberry Fruitcake.

 Christmas tea. Christmas Carols. Christmas decorating.  Everything Christmasssssssssy. Christmas tea with a friend is the best kind of tea.

 

CRANBERRY CHERRY CHRISTMAS CAKE

(I double this)

 

4 ½ cups  dried cranberries      1  cup butter

1 tbsp baking powder               3 Large eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar                        1 cup almonds

3  cups flour                            2 cups green/red cherries

1 tsp vanilla                             1 tsp almond flavouring

1 ½ cups cut up dried apricots   1 ½ cups golden raisins

2 cups wine or brandy

 

 

 

Preheat oven to 325 F. Grease 8 small parchment lined pans and 1 long loaf pan ( double recipe) or 2 loaf pans. Beat butter with sugar then eggs, then vanilla and almond. Beat in baking powder, flour, and all of the fruit.  Add wine or brandy to help mix into cake batter consistency.

 

Mix by hand to mix well.

 

Divide into pans and smooth tops. Bake in oven for about an hour. Need to test at 40 minutes to see. The larger loaf pans will take longer. Lovely scent as the cakes are baking…..

 

Cool on racks. Wrap in freezer bags and store in freezer.Make sure you slosh the cakes with a good deal of wine or brandy......will  be lovely.