Because I have so many friends on gluten-free diets, I have adapted the recipe to suit. So cheers, Aunt Daisy, your recipes live on, even if they have been tweaked for today's lifestyle.
Baking tips
Use level metric measures.
When measuring flour, spoon it into the measuring cup and lightly level the top. Do not pack it into the cup. The only ingredient to pack is brown sugar.
To measure dry ingredients by the spoon, fill the spoon then level the top with the straight edge of a knife.
If the cake pan is heavyweight and non-stick, then just line it with baking paper before use. If it is lightweight, then line with a layer of thick brown paper and one of baking paper.
Always cook fruit cakes in the middle of the oven at a low temperature otherwise the sugary fruits tend to burn. If the top appears to be browning too much, place a sheet of brown paper lightly over the cake, resting it on the paper that lines the pan.
When the cake is cooked, remove the pan from the oven and stand it on a chopping board.
Make rich fruit cakes at least three to four weeks before cutting.
RECIPES
AUNT DAISY GOES GLUTEN-FREE
Based on the Mangatainoka Christmas Cake but using gluten-free flour.
2 cups gluten-free flour
1/4 tsp each: grated nutmeg, baking soda
250g each: currants, raisins, sultanas
125g candied peel
Finely grated rind 1 lemon
250g each: butter, brown sugar
4 eggs, beaten to a stiff froth
1/4 cup brandy or wine
12 pitted (soft, juicy) prunes
125g ground almonds
1 tbsp icing sugar
Preheat oven to 180C. Line a 22-23cm round cake pan with baking paper. Sift flour, nutmeg and baking soda into a bowl.
Combine currants, raisins, sultanas, candied peel and lemon rind.
Cream butter and sugar, until light. Add eggs, beating in well. Add all the fruit - except prunes. Lastly, add flour mixture and brandy or wine. Mix thoroughly.
Place half the mixture in prepared pan. Lay prunes over top then strew with ground almonds and icing sugar. Top with rest of cake mixture.
Put cake in oven and reduce heat to 150C. Bake for 1 & 3/4 hours or until a skewer inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool then wrap in foil and store in a cool place for at least two weeks before cutting.
THE 200-GRAM CHRISTMAS CAKE
A quick-and-easy festive cake.
200g each: dried apricots, raisins, currants, mixed peel, glace cherries
1/4 cup brandy
3 large eggs
3/4 cup lightly packed brown sugar
175g butter, melted
1 & 1/2 cup high-grade flour
1 tsp mixed spice
Preheat oven to 150C. Line a deep, 20cm round cake pan with baking paper.
Quarter apricots then place all the fruit in a bowl with brandy.
Beat eggs and sugar until light, add cooled butter and fruit. Mix well. Sift in flour and mixed spice. Mix gently. Pour into prepared cake pan and smooth top. Bake for about 1 & 1/2 hours, until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Cool then wrap in foil and store in a cool place for at least a couple of weeks before cutting.
FIRM CHRISTMAS CAKE ICING
Adding Kremelta keeps the icing firm during warm weather.
70g each: butter, Kremelta
2 cups sifted icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1-2 tbsp milk, brandy or orange juice
Slightly soften butter and Kremelta then cream together, until smooth. Beat in icing sugar, 1 cup at a time, until smooth. Add vanilla essence and enough liquid to make the icing spreadable.
This makes enough to cover the sides and top of a 20-23cm cake.
TRADITIONAL RICH FRUIT CAKE
400g each: sultanas, raisins
150g each: currants, glace cherries, mixed peel
1/2 cup brandy or whisky
225g butter
1 & 1/2 cups dark cane sugar, firmly packed
1 tsp each: grated orange and lemon rinds, vanilla and almond essences
2 tbsp marmalade
4 eggs, well beaten
2 & 1/2 cups high-grade flour
Pinch salt
1 tsp each: ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger
Put fruit in a large bowl. Add brandy or whisky and mix well. Cover and stand for one to two hours, stirring occasionally.
Line a deep 20-23cm heavy cake pan with baking paper. Preheat oven to 150C.
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add citrus rind, essences and marmalade. Beat well. Add eggs a little at a time, beating well after each addition. If mixture starts to curdle add a little of the flour. Fold in mixed fruits alternately with the sifted dry ingredients. Mix well.
Pour into lined pan. Smooth the top with a wet hand. Bake for about 2 & 1/2 hours or until a skewer comes out clean. Start testing after two hours. Remove and cool. Store in foil.