FESTIVE BAKING Get ahead for Christmas

It might seem a long way off, but it's the best time to get ahead on festive baking - start now and give your cake time to mature before the holidays

- TONY HUTCHINSON

Make & mature Christmas cake

CUTS INTO 12-15 slices PREP 25 mins plus cooling COOK 2 hrs 10 mins

EASY V

1kg mixed dried fruit (use a mixture of raisins, sultanas, currants, cherries, cranberries, prunes or figs)

1 orange, zested and juiced

1 lemon, zested and juiced

150ml brandy, sherry, whisky or rum, plus extra for feeding

250g butter, softened

200g light brown soft sugar

175g plain flour

100g ground almonds

½ tsp baking powder

2 tsp mixed spice

1 tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground cloves

100g flaked almonds

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 Put the mixed dried fruit, the zest and juice of both citrus fruits, the alcohol, butter and brown sugar in a large pan set over a medium heat. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 mins. Tip the mixture into a large bowl and leave to cool for 30 mins.