Name: Christmas Cake - EASY moist fruit cake
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 195 min
Total time: 285 min
Yield: 20 - 25 people
Ingredients: 300g / 10 oz raisins; 150g / 5 oz diced dried apricots (, chopped 8 mm / 1/3"); 75g / 2.5 oz mixed peel (, diced 5mm / 1/5); 150g / 5 oz glace cherries (, chopped 8 mm / 1/3"); 180g / 6 oz dates (, diced 5mm / 1/5"); 1 cup + 2 tbsp (280 ml) apple juice, OR (1/3 brandy + 2/3 juice (Note 2)); 115g / 8 tbsp butter (, unsalted (1 US stick)); 1 1/2 cups (330g) dark brown sugar (, packed (Note 3)); 1/2 cup (125 ml) vegetable oil ((or canola, peanut, grapeseed)); 3 tbsp molasses or golden syrup ((Note 4)); 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp all spice; 1/2 tsp cinnamon; 1/2 nutmeg; 3 eggs; 1/2 tsp baking powder; 1 2/3 cup (250g) plain flour ((all purpose flour)); 3/4 cup walnuts (, chopped (optional)); 500ml / 1 pint pouring custard (, homemade or store bought (Note 5)); 250g / 8 oz "ready to roll" marzipan; 250g / 8 oz "ready to roll" white fondant; Cherries dusted with icing sugar; Cherries or other fruit dusted with icing sugar ((on plain cake, looks very pretty!)); Drippy white glaze ((directions below))