Last-minute Christmas loaf cake

• raisins↗200g g

  and sultanas

• sour cherries↗50g g
• dried figs↗100g g

  chopped

• mixed peel↗150g g
• orange↗1

  zested and juiced

• brandy↗250ml ml
• butter↗115g g

  plus extra melted for the tin

• muscovado sugar↗115g g
• eggs↗4

  beaten

• self-raising flour↗120g g
• baking powder↗1 tsp tsp
• brioche↗60g g

  crumbs

• chopped pecans40g g

  and pistachios

• ground mace½ tsp tsp
• ground cinnamon↗½ tsp tsp
• icing sugar↗

  to serve (optional)

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Tip the fruit and peel into a bowl with the orange juice and zest and 150ml of the brandy. Stir well, then leave in a warm place for 2 hrs for the fruit to plump up.

2. 2

   Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 4. Brush a 900g loaf tin with the melted butter, then line with baking parchment. Beat the muscovado sugar and butter until light and fluffy, then add the eggs one at a time. Mix in the fruit and the rest of the ingredients except for the remaining brandy and icing sugar. Spoon the mixture into the loaf tin, put the tin in a deep tray and bake for 1 hr 15 mins-1 hr 30 mins or until a skewer prodded in comes out clean. Remove from the oven and immediately pour over the brandy (this makes it easier for the cake to soak it up). Leave to cool, then dust with icing sugar, if using.