| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| Fee |
Chilli Chocolate Fruit CakeThis cake is very grown up with the dark chocolate and coffee flavours and a hint of heat from the chilli. The same cake is equally as tasty without the chilli if you prefer.Ingredients 400g (6oz) mixed dried fruit 200g dried dates, chopped 1tsp dried chilli flakes 100ml brandy 50ml rum 275g unsalted butter, softened 350g muscovada sugar 3 medium eggs 200g self-raising flour 150g plain flour 1tsp cinnamon žtsp each of mace, ground cloves and ground ginger (total ūtsp) 100ml espresso coffee, cooled 125g walnuts, roughly broken up 250g dark chocolate (85% cocoa solids pref, min 60%), broken up and chopped roughly 2 x 22cm loaf tins Method - Soak the fruit and chilli in half (50ml) the brandy and all of the rum overnight. - Preheat the oven to 160°c/325°f/Gas Mark 3 - Cream the butter and sugar until light. Add he eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly with additions until each egg is well incorporated, before adding the next. - Sift the flour and spices together. Add to the mixture in two stages insuring it is well combined with each addition. - Fold in the fruit and the coffee and finally add the walnuts and chocolate and mix thoroughly. - Divide between the two tins and cover loosely with greaseproof paper and make a hole about the size of a 50p piece in the top of the paper to allow the steam to escape. Cover with foil, making another hole, and tucking it under at the sides. - Bake for 1 hour and 15mins, checking the cake after about 1 hour. - A skewer inserted into the centre should come out dry with a few crumbly bits on the tip (unless you happen to hit a big piece of chocolate, in which case, enjoy and try somewhere else. - Leave the cakes to cool in their tins for about 30 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and pour over the remaining brandy. |
| Fee |
Oh, and I added some crystalized ginger chopped finely, too, a biggish lump, perhaps 1tsp. |
| yummersetter |
that would be lovely for Christmas as an alternative to The Cake or perhaps as a New Years Day cake - is it in the database? |
| Fee |
It is 
I made it for cakes for charity at Paul's work, and apparently it disappeared quite quickly! |
| nats |
Could you use the Chilli Vodka mentioned on the other thread that had gone too far?! |
| Fee |
I was thinking that while giving my fruit for Christmas cake a final stir earlier! I reckon it'd work quite well to replace some of the alcohol in the recipe and the chilli flakes with the chilli vodka. |