to 160ºC (320ºF, Gas Mark 2–3). Grease the tin and line with greaseproof paper, then grease the paper as well.
2 Sift the flours into a large mixing bowl and add the butter and sugar. Beat together until the mixture is pale and smooth. Add the eggs and beat well, adding more flour if the mixture becomes too loose.
3 Spoon the mixture into the tin, and then make a dip in the top with the back of a spoon to prevent the cake from rising too much.
4 Bake in the centre of the oven for 1–1¼ hours. Test the cake (see tip) and when it is cooked, remove it from the oven and leave it to stand in the tin for about five minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool fully.
5 Cover the cake around the sides and top with a coating of buttercream, then cover with sugarpaste (see covering cakes)
Rich Fruit Cake
This delicious cake improves with time, so always store it away before decorating it. I find it is generally at its best four weeks after baking, provided it is stored properly and fed with a little extra brandy!
Tip
Test whether a cake is ready by inserting a fine cake skewer into the centre. If the cake is ready, the skewer will come out clean, if not, replace the cake for a few more minutes and then test it again.
Ingredients
For a 20cm (8in) cake
Method
1 Place all the fruit and peel into a bowl and mix in the brandy. Cover the bowl with a cloth and leave to soak for 24 hours.
2 Preheat the oven to 140ºC (275ºF, Gas Mark 1). Grease the tin and line with greaseproof paper, then grease the paper as well.
3 Sieve the flour, salt and spices into a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4 Beat the eggs and then add a little at a time to the creamed butter and sugar, beating well after each addition. If the mixture looks as though it is going to curdle, add a little flour.
5 When all the eggs have been added, fold in the flour and spices. Then stir in the soaked fruit and peel, the chopped almonds, treacle and the grated orange and lemon zest.
6 Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and spread it out evenly with the back of a spoon.
7 Tie some cardboard or brown paper around the outside of the tin to prevent the cake from overcooking on the outside before the inside is done, then cover the top with a double thickness of greaseproof paper with a small hole in the centre to let any steam escape.
8 Bake the cake on the lower shelf of the oven for 4¼–4¾ hours. Do not look at the cake until at least 4 hours have passed, then test it (see tip).
9 When cooked, remove from the oven and allow to cool in the tin. When quite cold, remove from the tin but leave the greaseproof paper on as this helps to keep the cake moist. Turn the cake upside down and wrap in more greaseproof paper, then loosely in polythene and store in an airtight tin. Store in a cool, dry place.
10 You can feed the cake with brandy during the storage time. To do this, make a few holes in the surface of the cake with a fine skewer and sprinkle a few drops of brandy on to the surface. Reseal and store as above. Do not do this too often though or you will make the cake soggy.
11 Glaze the cake with apricot glaze (see essential purchases), then cover with marzipan and sugarpaste (see covering cakes).
Giant Cupcake
This is the recipe you will need in order to make the Cupcake Heaven cake, using the Wilton large cupcake pan (see Suppliers).
Ingredients
