Molly Cake

• stoned dates↗250 g

  roughly chopped

• water↗300 ml
• plain flour↗85 g
• whole wheat flour↗85 g
• baking powder↗3 teaspoons
• ground mixed spice1 teaspoon
• mixed dried fruit500 g

  (figs, sultanas, apricots etc. chopped, I tend to use the three listed above with some red berries)

• ground almonds↗50 g
• orange juice↗80 ml

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Pre-heat oven to 170oC/Gas Mark 3 and line 2 loaf tins with baking parchment (this will make two flattish cakes, for a full-sized cake use just one tin).

2. 2

   Put the dates and water in a pan and bring to the boil. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.

3. 3

   Sieve the plain flour, baking powder and mixed spice into a bowl. Add the wholemeal flour, mixed fruit and ground almonds. Stir to combine. Stir in the wet date mixture and the orange juice. Mix well.

4. 4

   Spoon into the tin(s). Bake for 50 minutes (170C / gas mark 3) or until a skewer comes out clean. Turn out onto a wire rack and cool.

5. 5

   Serve in slices with a nice cup of tea.