Christmas cake from Margaret - Penguin Books New Zealand

Ingredients

• 270 g sultanas, roughly chopped
• 270 g currants
• 270 g seeded raisins, chopped
• 120 g Australian dried apricots, chopped
• 60 g prunes, stoned and chopped
• 140 ml brandy
• 270 g softened unsalted butter
• 60 g mixed peel
• 40 g slivered almonds
• 225 g plain flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 250 g dark brown sugar
• 5 large eggs, beaten
• 1 tablespoon black treacle or golden syrup
• whole blanched almonds for decoration