Frosty forest cake
FOR THE CHRISTMAS CAKE
a.. 140g soft dried apricots , roughly chopped
b.. 100ml apricot or regular brandy
c.. 140g soft dried figs , roughly chopped
d.. 250g raisins
e.. 85g glacé cherries , quartered
f.. 50g each almonds , cashews and Brazil nuts, chunkily chopped
g.. finely grated zest 1 lemon
h.. 200g plain flour
i.. ½ tsp baking powder
j.. 1½ tsp mixed spice
k.. 50g ground almonds
l.. 200g butter , softened
m.. 200g light muscovado sugar
n.. 4 eggs
FOR THE DECORATION
a.. 800g marzipan
b.. mint green food colouring paste
c.. icing sugar
d.. clear honey
e.. silver and coloured dragees (varying sizes)
f.. 250g white ready-to-roll icing
g.. edible disco white hologram glitter
Cake can be frozen before covering
1.. To make the cake, soak the apricots in the brandy while you get
everything prepared. Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Butter then line the
sides and base of a deep 20cm round cake tin with greaseproof paper. Mix
together the figs, raisins, cherries, nuts and lemon zest.
2.. Combine the flour with the baking powder, mixed spice and ground almonds.
Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl until creamy, about 2 mins. Add the
eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gently fold the flour
mixture into the cake mixture in two goes, then fold in the fruits and nuts,
followed by the apricots and brandy.
3.. Spoon the mixture into the tin, then smooth the top, making a slight dip
in the middle. Bake for 30 mins, then lower the temperature to 150C/fan
130C/gas 2 and bake for another 1 hr 45 mins, laying a sheet of foil loosely
over the top for the final 15 mins if it starts to brown too quickly. The cake
is done when a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. Leave the cake in
the tin to cool, then remove the lining paper and wrap well in cling film and
foil until ready to decorate (see below or turn the page for another idea).
4.. To create the frosty forest cake: colour the marzipan pale green with a
little of the food colouring. Cut off 250g, then make this a shade darker with
more food colouring for the trees. To make the trees, roll out the darker green
marzipan on a surface lightly dusted with icing sugar. Make pointed triangular
cardboard tree templates in 3 different sizes (roughly 7.5 x 4cm/6.5 x
3.5cm/5.5 x 3cm). Using these as guides, cut out the tree shapes (see tip,
above right). Brush one side lightly with honey, then scatter over silver and
coloured dragees, pressing them down lightly to stick. Lay the trees on baking
parchment to firm up. This is best done a day or two ahead.
5.. When ready to decorate, sit the cake on a board or plate. On a surface
lightly dusted with icing sugar, roll the paler green marzipan into a circle
wide enough to cover the cake completely. Brush the cake all over with honey.
Using a rolling pin, lift and lower the marzipan onto the cake. Smooth the
surface of the marzipan with your palms, then trim off any excess from the
bottom with a sharp knife.
6.. Cut off two-thirds of the ready-to-roll icing, then roll out a strip
about 8cm wide and long enough to go over the top and down the sides of the
cake. Cut a wavy line down either side to resemble a path. Brush the marzipan
with honey where you want the path to go, then lay the path on top. Trim to
neaten the ends.
7.. Take two-thirds of the remaining icing, then roll out 2 long, narrow
ropes the same length as the path and about 5mm wide. Dampen the path edges
with water and lay the ropes in position. Cut off and roll small pieces from
the rest of the icing (and any trimmings), then shape into small snow drifts
for the trees to stand in. When the trees are firm, make an indent in the top
of each snowdrift with the back of a knife and put each tree into position. Sit
the trees on the cake, securing with a little honey underneath. If necessary,
cut off some of the rope along the edge of the path to make a flatter surface
for the trees. Finally, scatter edible glitter onto the marzipanned cake.
PER SLICE (FOR 16)
660 kcalories, protein 9g, carbohydrate 100g, fat 27 g, saturated fat 9g, fibre
0g, sugar 90g, salt 0.41 g
~ Enjoy the recipes and bon appettit ~
Arlette Arthur
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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