(25 servings) Ingredients for a quick Christmas cake Fruit 300 gm raisins 150 gm diced dried apricots 75 gm orange peel, diced 180 gm dates, diced 1 cup + 2 tbsp (280 ml) apple juice Cake 1 and cup maida/flour 3 eggs ½ tsp salt ½ cup oil 3 tbsp molasses or sugar syrup 8 tbsp unsalted butter 1 and ½ cups dark brown sugar ½ tsp cinnamon ½ nutmeg ½ tsp baking powder ¾ cup chopped walnuts Preparation guide Microwave dried fruit and apple juice for 1.5 minutes. Stir to coat all fruits in apple juice. Cover and set aside for 1 hour (to plump, soak and cool). For the cake, preheat the oven to 160°C. Beat butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Add oil and molasses syrup, and blend well. Add salt, spices and baking powder and mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating all the while. Now, add the flour. When it is mixed well, add and stir fruit mix (including all the extra liquid in the bowl) and walnuts. Pour into a cake pan, cover with foil and bake for 3 hours 15 minutes, removing foil for the last 45 minutes. A skewer inserted into the middle should come out clean with no batter on it. Remove from the oven and cool before serving. Health benefits. This recipe for a quick Christmas cake contains nutmeg, which is a wonderful digestive aid. It also relieves pain, strengthens cognitive functions, detoxifies the body, and improves oral health. Also read: How to make Gingerbread cake
