DOWN TO EARTH CHRISTMAS CAKE

INGREDIENTS:

^{1/2 cup dark grape juice}

^{225g butter}

^{1.25 kilos Down to Earth Christmas Cake fruit mix}

^{1 1/2 cups muscovado (molasses sugar)}

^{1 teaspoon grated orange rind}

^{1 teaspoon grated lemon rind}

^{A few drops of pure almond essence}

^{1 teaspoon natural vanilla}

^{2 tablespoons marmalade}

^{4 free-range eggs}

^{21/2 cups wholemeal stone ground flour}

^{1 teaspoon mixed spice}

^{1/2 teaspoon cinnamon}

^{1/2 teaspoon nutmeg}

^{Line a 20cm tin with brown paper and greaseproof paper.}

^{Prepare fruits by washing and draining. Pour over grape juice and leave overnight at least (leave a little longer for a moist cake). Cream the butter and sugar, grated citrus rind and essences.  Add marmalade. Drop in eggs one at a time, and beat well between eggs. Fold in prepared fruit alternately with sifted dry ingredients. Mix well.}

^{Bake in slow oven at 125° -150°C for approx 4 hours.}

^{For a 500g cake, double all ingredients, using a 25cm square tin, and cook for six hours at the same temperature.}

^{For individual Christmas cakes as gifts, try baking some in jumbo muffin pans, decorate and wrap in cellophane.}