MEXICAN CAKE WITH FRUIT IN THE MIDDLE RECIPES

Steps:

• Combine the dried fruit and candied peel in a large bowl. Add the 4 tbsp brandy and stir in to mix well. Cover and leave overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 140°C/fan120°C/gas 1. Put the remaining ingredients except the almonds in a large bowl. Beat with a hand-held electric mixer until well combined. Stir in the nuts and the soaked fruit with any soaking liquid.
• Grease a deep 23cm round tin or 20cm square cake tin with butter, line with a double layer of baking paper and grease the paper (see Golden Rules). Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin. Level the top and cover with a disc of baking paper.
• Bake for 4-5 hours until firm to the touch and a skewer pushed into the middle comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool in the tin.
• When the cake has cooled, remove the baking paper disc, pierce the top in several places with a skewer, then pour over a little brandy. Remove the cake from the tin but keep it in the baking paper. Wrap with more baking paper, then wrap with foil. Store in a cool place for up to 3 months to mature, occasionally unwrapping and spooning over 1-2 tbsp brandy.
• Decorate the cake with glacé fruit, marzipan or ready-to-use icing. Tie a ribbon around the cake if you like before serving. Recipe from Mary Berry’s Complete Cookbook (£25; Dorling Kindersley)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• In 1-quart saucepan, heat raisins, dates and brandy to simmering over medium heat. Remove from heat; let stand 15 minutes. Drain; set aside. Discard liquid.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, stir together cake mix, brown sugar, orange zest, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. In small bowl, stir melted butter, egg and water until blended. Add butter mixture to cake mix-brown sugar mixture; beat with spoon until well blended. Add drained fruit, maraschino cherries, nuts and candied cherries.
• Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake 11 to 13 minutes or until edges are set. Cool on cookie sheet 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Store covered in airtight container.