CHEAT’S FRUITCAKE

SERVES 12 / PREPARATION: 15 MINUTES + SOAKING COOKING: 1 HOUR

375ml (1½c) mixed dried fruit

180ml ( ³⁄4c) glacé cherries

125ml (½c) brandy + 60ml ( ¼ c) for brushing

2 packets (620g each) vanilla cake mix

125ml (½c) slivered almonds

15ml (1T) mixed spice

TOPPING fruit of your choice

1 egg white, whisked castor sugar

TO SERVE icing sugar

Preheat the oven to 150°C. Grease and line a round 20cm-deep cake tin with baking paper, extending paper 3cm above the edge. 1 In a bowl, combine the fruit, cherries and 125ml brandy. Soak for 1 hour. 2 Combine the cake

and prepare according to packet instructions, reducing the liquid by 125ml (½c). Stir in the soaked fruit, almonds and spice. Spoon into the tin, smoothing the top. 3 Bake for two hours, covering with foil halfway, until cooked or a testing skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Brush the warm cake with brandy. 4 Set aside to cool in the tin, loosely covered with foil. 5 Topping Dip the fruit in the egg white then coat in sugar. Set aside on a rack to dry. 6 To serve Dust cake with icing sugar, then arrange fruit and fondant stars (see tip) on top.