Name: Mini chocolate cranberry christmas cakes
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: En
Ingredients: 350 g / 1 2 ¼ oz dried soft prunes, chopped; 200 g / 7 oz dried cranberries; 200 g / 7 oz sultanas; 175 g / 6 ¼ oz unsalted butter, softened; 175 g / 6 ¼ oz dark brown sugar; 175 ml / 6 ¼ fl oz honey; 125 ml / 4 ½ fl oz rum; 2 oranges, juice and zest; 1 teaspoon mixed spice; 2 tablespoons good quality cocoa; 3 eggs, beaten; 150 g / 5 ¼ oz self raising flour; 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda; 75 g / 2 ½ oz ground almonds

Ingredients

350 g / 1 2 ¼ oz dried soft prunes, chopped
200 g / 7 oz dried cranberries
200 g / 7 oz sultanas
175 g / 6 ¼ oz unsalted butter, softened
175 g / 6 ¼ oz dark brown sugar
175 ml / 6 ¼ fl oz honey
125 ml / 4 ½ fl oz rum
2 oranges, juice and zest
1 teaspoon mixed spice
2 tablespoons good quality cocoa
3 eggs, beaten
150 g / 5 ¼ oz self raising flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
75 g / 2 ½ oz ground almonds

Preparation

Preparation15 min

Cook time30 min

Preheat the oven to 150 degrees C/300 degrees F/Gas 2. Line the sides and bottom of a 20 cm / 8in, 9cm / 3 ½ in deep, round loose-bottomed cake tin with a layer of baking parchment.
When lining the tin with the parchment, cut the material into strips that are twice as high as the tin itself; the height of the strips protects the cake from catching on the outside of the cake tin.
Also cut a disc of baking parchment to fit the diameter of the tin. When the cake has set you can pop this little hat on the top to help stop any scorching.
Place the fruit, butter, sugar, honey, rum, orange juice and zest, mixed spice and cocoa into a large wide saucepan. Heat the mixture until it reaches a gentle boil, stirring the mixture as the butter melts. Let the mixture simmer for ten minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and leave to stand for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, the mixture will have cooled a little. Add the eggs, flour, ground almonds, and bicarbonate soda, and mix well with a wooden spoon or spatula until the ingredients have combined.
Carefully pour the fruitcake mixture into the lined cake tin. Transfer the cake tin to the oven and bake for 1¾-2 hours, or until the top of the cake is firm but will has a shiny and sticky look.
At this point, if you insert a skewer into the middle of the cake, the tip should be slightly sticky. Place the cake on a cooling rack. Once the cake has cooled, remove it from the tin.