Sultana Brandy Cake

Preparation time:
20 mins
Cooking time:
1 hour, 45
Serves:
20
Jazz up the traditional fruit cake for Christmas with this easy-to-master recipe.

Ingredients

4 cups sultanas (750g)
250g unsalted butter, chopped, at room temperature
¾ cup caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla paste
5 eggs
2½ cups plain flour
¼ cup self-raising flour

¹/³ cup brandy

To Decorate

125g white fondant
Pure icing sugar, for dusting

Method

1 Place sultanas in a large bowl. Add enough warm water to come 3cm above the top of sultanas. Stand, covered, for 2 hours. Drain. Discard water. Spread sultanas out on two trays lined with absorbent kitchen paper. Stand, uncovered, for eight hours, or overnight.

2 Grease a 20cm square x 8cm deep cake pan. Line base and sides with two layers of brown paper, then one layer of baking paper, both extending 3cm above edges of pan.

3 Beat butter, sugar and paste in a small bowl of an electric mixer until just combined. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until just combined. Don’t overbeat. Transfer to a large bowl.

4 Add combined sifted flours, brandy and sultanas. Using a wooden spoon, stir until well combined. Spoon into prepared pan. Level surface.

5 Cook in a slow oven (150C) for 1 hour, 45 minutes, or until cooked when tested. Remove from oven. Wrap hot cake and pan in a clean tea towel. Cool in pan completely.

6 To decorate, knead fondant on a clean surface dusted with icing sugar until smooth. Roll out to 1cm thick. Cut a star using a 9cm cutter.

7 To serve, remove cake from pan. Brush fondant star with a little water and arrange on top of cake.

Notes

TIP: Cake can be made up to a week ahead. Wrap in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container. You can replace brandy with whiskey, rum or other liqueurs.

Source:
New Idea
Author:
Stylist:
Cass Stokes
Photographer:
Oliver Ford & Andre Martin

Latest Recipes

  1. Char Siu Pork

    Char Siu Pork

    This Chinese sticky roast dish is a real crowd pleaser – you’ll be battling for seconds!

  2. Apple Streusel Cake

    Apple Streusel Cake

    With its crunchy top and apple filling, this cake is always a hit – especially when served with cream!

  3. How to make Crostoli

    How to make Crostoli

    Light and crisp, these Italian pastries are perfect when entertaining a crowd!

  4. Raspberry & Pistachio Semifreddo

    Raspberry & Pistachio Semifreddo

    This Italian ice-cream dessert is semi-frozen with a delicate texture. Mmm!

  5. Ocean Trout with Tomato, Quinoa and Fetta

    Ocean Trout with Tomato, Quinoa and Fetta

    Delicious fish in only three steps!

  6. Warm Chicken with Quinoa, Pomegranate and Sprouts

    Warm Chicken with Quinoa, Pomegranate and Sprouts

    The perfect light chicken salad for summer.

  7. Wheat-free Pizza

    Wheat-free Pizza

    Don't think there's a healthy option for pizza? Think again!

  8. Turkey Spelt Wrap with Salad

    Turkey Spelt Wrap with Salad

    A healthy, simple lunchtime staple you'll keep forever!

  9. Two Egg Omelette with Spinach, Tomato and Fetta

    Two Egg Omelette with Spinach, Tomato and Fetta

    Healthy breakfasts don't have to be boring - try this delicious omelette recipe!

  10. Broccoli Soup with Labne, Basil and Lemon Zest

    Broccoli Soup with Labne, Basil and Lemon Zest

    With less than 4g of fat, this soup is a healthy lunch time winner!

  11. Tuna, Asparagus and Goat's Cheese Salad

    Tuna, Asparagus and Goat's Cheese Salad

    Fresh, fast and full of protein!

  12. Powerfood Breakfast Cereal

    Powerfood Breakfast Cereal

    Wake up with this deliciously healthy homemade cereal!

  13. Prawn, Mango & Macadamia Rice Paper Rolls

    Prawn, Mango & Macadamia Rice Paper Rolls

    Love prawns on Christmas day? Change up your usual presentation with these super easy rolls!

  14. Sugar Snap Pea, Avocado & Black Sesame Salad

    Sugar Snap Pea, Avocado & Black Sesame Salad

    A salad you can enjoy all year round, try this fresh combination for the Christmas table!

  15. Roast Duck Breast with Cherry Sauce

    Roast Duck Breast with Cherry Sauce

    Turkey, ham, chicken... why not try delicious roast duck for change this festive season?

  16. Coconut, Mango & Dark Chocolate Vacherin

    Coconut, Mango & Dark Chocolate Vacherin

    This festive fruity delight looks just as impressive as it is delicious!

  17. Honey & Szechuan Pumpkin Salad

    Honey & Szechuan Pumpkin Salad

    A new twist on an old festive favourite, spice up your pumpkin dish this Chrissy!

  18. Tomato & Onion Pie

    Tomato & Onion Pie

    This free-form pie is one of the easiest to make – no tins required!

  19. Broccoli & Cauliflower Gratin

    Broccoli & Cauliflower Gratin

    Easy to bake, easy to take! Cook this delicious Christmas dish and take it with you to the family lunch.

  20. Glazed Carrots & Zucchini

    Glazed Carrots & Zucchini

    Colourful vegies like zucchini and carrot make for perfectly festive Christmas dinner accompaniments!

Rating:

Free Y!7 Food app

  • New Idea recipes on your mobile!

    GET NEW IDEA RECIPES ON YOUR MOBILE

    • Plus 1000's of other recipes
    • Search by cuisine, meal, ingredient and occasion
    • Create shopping lists and save your fave recipes
    • Watch exclusive videos
    • DOWNLOAD THE APP

Competitions

  1. New Idea's Next Top Humourist

  2. New Idea Puzzles

  3. Clueless Crossword #20

  4. Competition Winners List