Christmas Black Cake

Ingredients

1/2 lb butter
1 tsp. almond flavouring
6 ozs. bread crumbs
1 tbsp. mixed spice
1/2 lb granulated sugar
2 tsp. lime or orange rind
4 cups mixed fruits (raisins, currants, prunes, citron,
 cherries, dates)
6 ozs. flour
1 cup white rum
1 tbsp. browning
6 eggs
1 tsp. baking powder
1 pint red label or port wine
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Method

1. Prepare tin by lining insides with grease paper. Grease with butter.
2. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Mix in browning, vanilla and almond flavouring, lime juice and rind.
4. Add eggs one at a time and beat in well. Add soaked fruits, cherries, dates and nuts.
5. Mix breadcrumbs, flour, baking powder, salt and mixed spice.
6. Add alternately, rum and port wine.
7. Pour into prepared baking tin and bake at 250°F (125°C) for about 2 hours.

Yield: 4 lb cake