Mum's Fruit Cake

I've been asked for this recipe so many times, I thought I'd share it on my blog! It's actually not my fruit cake as the recipe was given to me by my mum, Helen's nan. I've modified it a little and made it vegan, but it's basically the same easy recipe. You will need a round loose bottomed tin. 8" is good, but I make it in a 9" if it's to be easily sliced for lots of people, and sometimes in a 7" if I want a particularly moist version. Line the bottom with greaseproof, and the sides if you wish or simply give them a thin coating of margarine. The recipe is in cups (I know, annoying). I always use an old green mug that holds 250ml of liquid (I just measured it for you!) Ingredients 2 cups dried fruit (I use raisins) 1 cup sugar (dark brown is good) 1 cup milk (we like oat milk) 5oz margarine 1 small-medium grated apple 1 tbsp chia seeds left to stand in 4 or 5 tbsp boiling water for at least 5 mins (make sure they're all submerged - add more water until gloopy) 2 cups SR flour 1 tsp mixed spice Demerara sugar to sprinkle on the top. Method 1. Put dried fruit, sugar and milk into a saucepan. Heat gently until it simmers. Allow to simmer for 2 minutes, then let it cool until just warm. 2. Add the margarine, grated apple, chia seeds & mixed spice. Stir really throughly, making sure to disperse the chia seeds. 3. When you're sure it is cool enough not to activate the raising agents in the flour, sift in the flour. Stir thoroughly and put the mixture into the tin. 4. Shake it level, don't smooth it, and sprinkle demerara sugar all over the surface. 5. Bake on a middle shelf at 160°C (convection oven - probably 150°C in a fan oven) for about 75 - 90 minutes. A skewer should come out completely clean. 6. After 5 minutes turn out on to a cooling rack and remove all of the paper. Cool completely and store in an airtight tin. It's definitely better eaten the next day, and will last about a week. If you cut and eat it when it's warm it's pretty tasty too, however, and has been known to be served with custard.... I have never known this cake to fail, and it creates very little washing up. Enjoy!

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