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A pack of Billington's Dark Muscovado sugar next to a round freshly baked fruit cake thats wrapped in brown paper in the tin.

Rich Fruit Celebration Cake Recipe

PREP

30 mins

BAKE

2h 30m

TOTAL

3h

Serves 12

Easy

About the bake

There's something undeniably special about a rich fruit celebration cake that brings joy to any occasion. Whether it's a birthday, wedding, Christmas or a family gathering, this cake is a timeless favourite. It's rich, moist, full of fruit and is delicious on its own or covered with marzipan and sugar paste or royal icing.

Made with Billington's Dark Muscovado Sugar, we believe this to be world's finest dark brown soft sugar. With its au natural deep brown colour and rich toffee flavour notes, this sugar will add an undeniably delicious taste to your fruit cake. So, roll up your sleeves, embrace the joy of baking, and craft a memorable celebration cake that will steal the show!

17 Ingredients

8 Steps

Ingredients

For the cake

  • 250g Unsalted Butter (softened)
  • 360g Glacé cherries (halved)
  • 480g Sultanas
  • 450g Raisins
  • 550g Currants
  • 225ml Brandy
  • 260g Billington's unrefined dark muscovado
  • 1 tbsp Black treacle
  • 5 Egg(s) (free range) (large, lightly beaten)
  • 240g Allinson's Plain White Flour
  • 1 tsp Baking powder
  • 1 tsp Cinnamon (ground)
  • 1 tsp Nutmeg (ground)
  • 1 tsp Cloves (ground)
  • 1 tsp Mixed spice
  • 40g Glacé ginger
  • 1 tsp Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract

Nutritional information per 118g serving

  • 423kcal Energy
  • 10g Fat
  • 5.8g of which Saturates
  • 72g Carbohydrates
  • 65g of which Sugars
  • 4.1g Protein
  • 0.16g Salt

Method


  • Step 1

    Grease and line a deep cake tin with non-stick baking paper or use a non-stick 10" cake tin.


  • Step 2

    Wash the fruits and drain through a sieve. Tip into a bowl, and pour the brandy over the mixture. Leave to steep for up to 6 hours.


  • Step 3

    Preheat the oven to 140°C (120°C fan, gas mark 1). Ensure all the ingredients are at room temperature.


  • Step 4

    Melt the butter and sugar together in a saucepan, stirring until well mixed, then pour into a mixing bowl.


  • Step 5

    Add the treacle and mix well, then add the eggs and mix again.


  • Step 6

    Sift in the flour, baking powder and spices and fold in well, then stir in the steeped fruit and remaining liquid, the glacé ginger and vanilla extract.


  • Step 7

    Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool in the tin and turn out when cold.


  • Step 8

    To store wrap in a double layer of greaseproof paper and a layer of foil. Store at room temperature to mature for up to 6 weeks prior to the event. Once covered in marzipan and icing, this cake will keep for a further 6 months at room temperature. Alternatively, store in the freezer wrapped in a double layer of greaseproof paper and double layer of foil pretty much indefinitely.

“I've now used this recipe for years. Best fruitcake Ive ever tasted! Doesn't even matter if you make it a week before eating. It's just so fabulously moist and the recipe easy to follow.”