Traditional Christmas cake recipe | delicious. magazine

Ingredients

• 375g unsalted butter at room temperature, plus extra, melted, for greasing
• 370g self-raising flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 3 tsp mixed spice
• 1 tsp each ground nutmeg and cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground cloves
• 130g ground almonds
• 480g each currants, raisins and sultanas
• 225g each glacé cherries and mixed citrus peel
• 130g blanched almonds
• 315g soft dark brown sugar
• Grated zest and juice of 1 large lemon
• 9 large free-range eggs, plus 1 extra (optional)
• 8 tbsp brandy