Manor House Fruit Cake

There are many attempt to imitate the Mr Kipling’s Manor House Fruit Cake; this is mine.

• 225g self raising flour
• 110g butter
• 110g caster sugar
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 225g mixed dried fruit (with or without peel; I prefer with)
• 5 tbs milk
• 1 egg
• Demerara sugar

Set oven to 180C.

Mix flour and butter to breadcrumbs (best done in a food processor, but rubbing in by hand is traditional). Mix in the spice, sugar and fruit. Mix in egg and add milk to reach a dropping consistency. Can turn out into a mixing bowl and use a spoon.

Put in a greased and lined loaf tin or 6” round tin (15cm), sprinkle with about two tablespoons of Demerara sugar. Bake for 1 hour; check after 45 mins and cover if it is getting too dark.

Variations

All of these variations start out rather crumbly, and better on the second day. This might be corrected by adding more egg.

For date and walnut cake: switch the sugar to golden caster; replace the mixed fruit with 125g chopped dates and 115g chopped walnuts. Bake at 180C fan, done at 45 mins.