Classic Christmas cake recipe

Ingredients

• 250 g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
• 200 g dark brown muscovado sugar
• 750 g vine fruit mix
• 250 g chopped, dried, pitted apricots
• 100 g dates, chopped
• 200 g glacé cherries, halved (we like Cooks’ Ingredients Provencal Glacé Cherries)
• 1 orange, grated zest and juice
• 100 ml brandy, plus extra for feeding
• 200 g mixed peel (we like Cooks’ Ingredients Italian Cut Mixed Peel)
• 150 g almonds, chopped
• 5 large eggs, beaten (we like British Blacktail Large Free Range Eggs)
• 300 g plain (all-purpose) flour
• 2 tsp mixed spice
• 0.5 tsp grated nutmeg