Any Occasion Cake

• mixed dried fruits450 г g
• raisins↗100 г g
• sugar cherries↗100 г g
• lemon↗цедра 1 шт., натерта
• orange↗цедра 1 шт., натерта
• medium sherry↗150 мл ml
• soft brown sugar↗175 г g
• plain flour↗100 г g
• flour with leavening agent50 г g
• ground almond↗50 г g
• aromatic pepper↗1 ч. л. tsp
• butter↗175 г g

  soft

• eggs↗3

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Transfer the dried fruits and zest into a bowl, pour the sherry over them and let them marinate overnight. Grease and line the bottom and sides of a 20 cm deep cake tin with a double layer of parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 140 °C (convection 120 °C, gas 1).

2. 2

   In a large bowl, combine all the dry ingredients, add the soft butter and eggs. If the dough begins to clump, add a little more plain flour. Fold the dried fruits into the mixture, pouring out any excess sherry that hasn't been absorbed, then transfer the batter into the tin. Smooth the surface and make a small indentation in the centre.

3. 3

   Bake in the centre of the oven for 2 ½ hours, until the cake turns dark golden‑brown; a skewer inserted into the centre should come out dry. If the top browns too quickly, cover it with a layer of parchment paper. Leave it in the tin for another 10 minutes, then turn it out onto a rack to cool. Serve plain or with glaze or decoration to taste.