Christmas Cake topped with Whole Almonds

Ingredients

• 500g currants
• 500g golden sultanas
• 750g seeded raisins
• 250g crystallised ginger, cut into small pieces
• 250g glace green or red cherries, cut into pieces
• 250g chopped mixed candied peel
• 1 orange, finely grated zest only
• 250g blanched almonds, cut in half
• ½ cup rum
• ½ cup brandy or whiskey
• 500g butter, at room temperature
• 500g soft brown sugar
• 10 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 tbsp coffee crema
• 1 tsp almond essence
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 5 cups plain flour
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp cocoa
• 2 cups whole blanched almonds
• ¾ cup brandy