Christmas Fruit Cake

Method

1. In a deep medium bowl, add in the prunes, cherries, raisins, mixed peel and pour in the dark rum and cherry brandy. Mix well and allow fruit to soak in alcohol for a minimum of three days straight up to many months. ( If Soaking for numerous months, be sure to top up with more alcohol as fruits will absorb it as time goes by ) Cover bowl and place to soak for your selected period of time.
2. Place fruits and its liquor into a food processor and process until semi coarse in texture, somewhat similar to a liquid paste consistency. Set aside.
3. Place either the beater or paddle attachment onto your stand mixer and in the mixing bowl; add in the softened butter, and sugar. On high speed, cream ingredients until light, fluffy and batter has increased in volume. (About five minutes)
4. On medium speed, add in the eggs one at a time just until they are all incorporated evenly into batter.
5. Switch machine off and using a rubber spatula, clean the sides of the bowl to allow all ingredients to thoroughly combine. Into a separate bowl, sift the dry ingredients such as the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and elychee in. Set aside. Place mixer back on to low speed and add in Almond and Vanilla Essences as well as the addition of the sifted flour in two or three portions simultaneously as the machine runs.
6. Turn machine off and add in the orange zest, processed fruits, browning and almonds. Place machine back onto low speed and allow ingredients to mix well ensuring to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Do not mix batter too much, just until fruits are evenly combined then turn of mixer. Preheat oven to 280 degrees Fahrenheit.
7. Prepare a 9 inch spring form pan by greasing with some softened butter then dusting lightly with flour. Cut a circular piece of grease proof paper that fits the circumference of pan’s base and carefully lay inside. Pour fruit cake batter into the pan, then tap gently against the counter to settle the batter evenly.
8. Place cake pan into the oven on the middle rack and bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a toothpick or skewer, inserted in the cake, comes out clean. If still gooey, return cake back into oven for an additional 10 to 15 minutes and monitor so it doesn’t burn.
9. Meanwhile, in a small bowl; mix the ingredients to soak the cake. When cake is done, let sit for 10 minutes to cool. Using a skewer, pierce the surface area of cake to create minute holes. Drizzle or brush the alcohol mixture all over the cake to allow the alcohol to soak in. Allow cake to rest until completely cool, then slice and enjoy.
10. You can also continue to soak the cake a few more times over the course of the next few days to allow it absorb more alcohol and truly become stronger in flavor before slicing. This I recommend fully. Be sure to keep cake tightly covered in the pan as to prevent it from drying up.