Rich old-fashioned fruit cake

Ingredients

• 1 kg mixed dried fruit
• 1/2 cup finely chopped glace ginger
• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
• 1 cup apple puree
• 2 tablespoons apricot jam
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 250 g butter
• 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 cups plain flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• Glace cherries
• 2 to 4 tablespoons whisky

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Preparation

• In a large bowl mix fruits, glace ginger, orange zest, apple puree, apricot jam and orange juice. Cover and allow to stand overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 150 C. Lightly grease a 20 cm round tin and lin with two layers of non-stick baking paper.
• Cream butter, sugar and vanilla extract until light and creamy. Add eggs one at a time. Add sifted dried ingredients alternately with fruit mixture.
• Put into prepared tin. Decorate with rows of cherries. Bake for 3 to 31/2 hours. Cover with baking paper for the last hours to prevent burning.
• Remove from oven and pour whisky on top. Leave in tin to cool completely before removing.