Apricot Brandy Cake – mixing & baking

Much later than I promised (due to circumstances beyond my control), here is the info on how to complete the Apricot Brandy Cake. Just as well I gave a link to the recipe! Stage one, mixing the fruit and the booze is a few posts back.

Stage one is two posts back.

1. Assemble the ingredients

225g/8oz butter, at room temperature
225g/8oz light muscovado sugar
225g/8oz plain flour
4 large eggs
350g/12oz glace cherries, halved, rinsed and dried
2 oranges, grated zest only

Pre-heat the oven to Pre-heat the oven to 140C/275F/Gas 1.

2. Line the tin with greaseproof paper

You’ll need a double layer, you don’t want it to burn. Draw round the base of the tine for the bottom (and some for the top). You can roll the tin along the paper to get the right size – remember to allow for an overlap.

4. Cherries, orange rind and flour

Wash the cherries so they are not too sticky. Chop them up. Just in half if you like big pieces of cherry in your cake. I prefer smaller, more evenly distributed pieces so I chope mine smaller.
Grate the zest from the oranges.

5. Cream the butter and sugar.

I use a food procesor. If you want to develop your arm muscles you can beat with a spoon. Add the eggs and continue mixing/beating till combined.

6. In a very large bowl, combine the butter/sugar/egg mixture with the flour/cherry/orange zest mixture.

7. Stir in the mixed fruit and brandy mixture

which has been soaking for days or weeks.

8. Put the mixture into the lined cake tin.

It is now ready to put in the oven.

9. Bake in the preheated oven for about 3½ hours or until the cake is a golden brown colour, feels firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Keep an eye on the cake and if it is getting too brown, cover it loosely with foil.

10. Allow the cake to cool in the tin, then turn it out.

Wrap in greaseproof paper and store in an cake tin or box. It will keep for ages (at least a year) if, every so often, you poke holes in the cake with a skewer and spoon or pour more brandy over it.