Gluten-Free Christmas Cake

For those who have to follow a gluten-free diet, eating home-made cakes can be quite a challenge as many are made with wheat flour which is full of gluten. Nowadays it’s not too difficult to find gluten-free flours – most large supermarkets will have an aisle dedicated to special diet products. This Gluten-free Christmas cake uses both gluten-free flour and baking powder and the only thing to remember when baking with these products is to add a little extra liquid to the recipe. Store the cake in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Gluten-Free Christmas Cake

Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 1 hr 45 mins
Total Time 2 hrs 15 mins
Servings 12

Ingredients
  

  • 350 g mixed dried fruit
  • 100 ml brandy or orange juice
  • 150 g butter softened
  • 150 g soft light brown sugar
  • 3 eggs beaten
  • Zest of 1 large orange
  • 50 g blanched almonds chopped
  • 50 g glace cherries halved
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 150 g gluten-free plain flour
  • tsp gluten-free baking powder
  • 2 tsp ground mixed spice
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 100 ml milk

Instructions
 

  • Place the dried fruit in a bowl with the brandy or orange juice and leave to soak for 2 hrs or overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 170°C/325°F/Gas Mark 3. Grease an 18cm round deep cake tin and line the base and sides with a double thickness of baking paper.
  • Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat together until pale and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs, adding a little of the flour is the mixture begins to curdle. Add the soaked fruit, orange zest, almonds, cherries and vanilla extract.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder and spices and fold into the mixture with the milk. Spoon the cake mixture into the prepared tin and level the surface.
  • Bake for 1½-1¾ hrs until golden, firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 15 mins then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

Notes

Replace half the dried mixed fruit with finely chopped dried apricots and dates, if liked.