AUSSIE CHRISTMAS CAKE
SERVES 12 PREP 20 MINS + RESTING COOK 1½ HOURS COST
• 1 cup chopped dried dates• ½ cup red glace cherries, roughly chopped• cup sultanas• cup currants• ½ cup brandy, plus 2 tbsp extra• 1 cup self-raising flour• ¾ tsp allspice• 1 cup almond meal• 185g unsalted butter, softened• 1 cup caster sugar• 3 eggs• 1 cup hazelnuts, roasted, skins removed, roughly chopped• 1 cup slivered almonds, toasted• quartered figs, raspberries, chopped pistachios to serve CINNNAMON BUTTERCREAM
• 125g unsalted butter, softened• 1 tsp vanilla extract• 1½ cups icing sugar, sifted• 1 tsp cinnamon 1 In a bowl, combine dates, cherries, sultanas, currants and brandy. Cover with plastic wrap. Set aside 1 hour.
2 Preheat oven to moderately slow, 160°C. Lightly grease and line a 20cm round cake pan with baking paper.
3 Reserve 2 tbsp flour. Sift remaining flour and allspice…
