Robin's Recipes: Christmas Ale Christmas Cake

Although Christmas may be a little different for many of us this year, Robin has shared with us a show-stopping traditional treat with a slight beery twist for you to enjoy during the festivities!

Harvey's Christmas Ale Cake:

Ingredients: 

• 225g Plain Flour 
• 1 Tsp Mixed Spice 
• 1 Tsp Cinnamon 
• ½ Tsp Grated Nutmeg 
• 1 Tsp Cocoa Powder 
• 175g Butter 
• 175g Soft Brown Sugar 
• 1 Level Tbsp Black Treacle 
• 4 Eggs Medium 
• 550g Mixed Dried Fruit 
• Currents, Saltanas, Raisins 
• 100g Mixed Peel Chopped 
• 100g Glace Cherries 
• ½ Pint Christmas Ale
• Golden Rum 

Method: 

1. Mix flour, dry spices and cocoa. 
2. Soak fruit and peel in Christmas Ale and rum for up to one week, until nice and plump! 
3. Cream the butter, sugar and treacle. 
4. Beat in whole eggs, one at a time, adding a tbsp of dry ingredients each time. 
5. Stir in mixed fruit and peel. 
6. Fold in the rest of the dry ingredients. 
7. Place in a 20cm round/18cm square tin lined with greaseproof paper. 
8. Bake, middle oven, gas 2/150°C for 4 to 4½ until done. 
9. Cool on wire rack. 
10. Place in an air tight tin/box feeding with rum every few days (make holes all over with skewer-pour on rum) 
11. Just before Christmas, spread on melted jam of your choice, marzipan if required, and icing. 

Serve with a glass of our Christmas Ale.

Thank you to Robin for sharing this delicious, festive recipe.