Fruit Cake

Happen to 'discover' a bottle of cognac in the cupboard, quickly embarked on my fruit cake baking... been wanting to bake a fruit cake for very long :) I went ahead to soak a pack of dried fruit in the liquor since 5 days ago and store in the fridge until I search for a recipe I like. After comparing several fruit cake recipes on web-sites & recipe book, finally come out with this recipe of my 'own' ^-^.

It is a fuss free recipe with simple stirring & mixing without using a electrical mixer! Only point to note is that I covered the cake lightly after baking for 35mins to prevent it from browning too fast*. During the baking process, the aroma of the cake is simply irresistible, with the sweet fragrant of fruits & alcohol filling the whole house!

I store the cake in air-tight container for 1 day before serving.....texture of the cake? is so light & moist! and the sweetness is just right for my taste.

Ingredient
* 200gm dried mixed fruits (soaked in alcohol for at least 1 day)
* 250gm dried dates, chopped
* 125gm butter
* 100gm light brown sugar
* 1 tsp mixed spice
* 1/2 cup fresh orange juice
* 1/2 cup cognac
* 2 eggs, lightly beaten
* 250gm plain flour
* 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
* 1 tsp baking soda

Method

1. Drain mixed fruits from liquor. Reserve liquor and top up to 1/2 cup for use later.
   
2. Place mixed fruits, dates, butter, sugar, mixed spice & orange juice in a deep saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stir till butter melts. Bring to boil then reduce heat and simmer for 5 mins uncover. Cool completely.
3. Stir in 1/2 cup liquor & eggs into fruit mixture. Sift in flour, baking powder & baking soda and fold in lightly till well combined.
   
4. Greased & double lined a 7 in cake pan. Baked in preheated oven at 160 deg cel for 1 hr 15mins . *(Note : cover surface lightly with a parchment paper after 35mins to prevent the top from burning)
5. Cool in pan for 10min before removing the cake onto wire rack to cool completely. Store in air-tight container and best serve 1 day later.