Recipe

Great-grandma's christmas cake

My mum recently handed me a real treasure – an exercise book that was used for recipes by my great-grandmother. I never knew my great-grandmother, but I certainly recognise some of her recipes from my visits to Nan’s house. It has been compiled with patience and love, and gives me an insight into a woman I never met. It is a privilege to now have her cookbook. This cake is from an era where home cooks were incredibly frugal, as everyday ingredients, such as butter, were in short supply.

Jul 06, 2010 2:00pm
  • 1 hr 5 mins cooking
  • Serves 10
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AWW Dec 2009

Ingredients

Great-grandma's christmas cake
  • 1 tablespoon finely grated lemon rind
  • 1 cup (220g) caster sugar
  • 60 gram butter, chopped
  • 1 cup (150g) sultanas
  • 1 cup (150g) currants
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) brandy
  • 1/2 cup (125ml) water
  • 2 eggs, beaten lightly
  • 1 cup (150g) plain flour
  • 1 cup (150g) self-raising flour
  • icing sugar, to decorate

Method

Great-grandma's christmas cake
  • 1
    In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients, except the eggs, flours and icing sugar; boil for 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl, cool to room temperature.
  • 2
    Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced). Grease a 20cm-round cake pan and line base and sides with baking paper.
  • 3
    Stir eggs into cooled fruit mixture; fold in sifted flours. Spread mixture into the prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour or until cooked when tested with a thin knife or skewer. Cool in pan.
  • 4
    To decorate, place a paper doily on cake and dust liberally with icing sugar, then carefully remove the doily. Serve sliced.

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