Last minute Christmas cake - Penguin Books Australia

Ingredients

• 300 g unsalted butter
• 420 g raw sugar
• 2 1/4 cups (380 g) raisins
• 180 g pitted prunes
• 1 cup (160 g) sultanas
• 90 g dried currants
• 90 g pitted dates
• 2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda
• 1/2 cup (125 ml) brandy or overproof (dark) rum
• 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) cool water
• 2 teaspoons freshly grated or ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 1/2 cups (375 g) stone-ground wholemeal plain flour
• 150 g pecan halves and 120 g whole almond kernels, for decorating
• 1/2 quantity Apricot Glaze (see page 246), (optional)