A lighter alternative to the traditional cake, this delight is perfect for anyone not a fan of the usual heavy dried fruit cakes. The light almondy sponge cake is speckled with blackberries and blueberries and drizzled with glace icing, the perfect combination of sharp and sweet.
Blackberry and Blueberry Christmas Cake
Serves 8
Ingredients
175g mixed blackberries and blueberries (if the blackberries are very large, cut them in half)
175g self-raising flour
½ tsp baking powder
175g unsalted butter, at room temperature
175g caster sugar
3 medium eggs, beaten
75g ground almonds
Few drops almond essence
To decorate:
175g (6oz) icing sugar
4-5 tsp cold water
3 tbsp toasted flaked almonds
Few extra blackberries and blueberries or a few halved strawberries
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Grease a 23cm diameter or 1.5 litre fluted ring mould or bundt tin.
2. Add the blackberries and blueberries to a small bowl with 2 tablespoons of the flour and gently stir together until the berries are coated. Add baking powder to the remaining flour.
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually mix in alternate spoonfuls of beaten egg and remaining flour, beating well after each addition and continuing until all has been added.
4. Stir in the ground almonds and almond essence, then fold in the flour coated berries.
5. Spoon the mixture into the cake tin and level the top. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until well risen, the top is golden and a skewer comes out cleanly when inserted into the cake.
6. Leave to cool for 30 minutes, then loosen the edges of the mould, turn out on to a wire rack and remove the mould. Leave to cool completely.
7. Sift the icing sugar into a bowl, gradually mix in just enough water to mix to a smooth icing that will slowly fall from a spoon.
8. Transfer the cake to a serving plate, drizzle the icing over in zig zag lines, decorate with a few extra berries and sprinkle with the flaked almonds. Leave to stand for 15 minutes or so for the icing to set, then serve in thick slices.
Tip: As the cake has lots of fresh fruit in the mixture it is best eaten within 2 days.
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Blackberry and Blueberry Christmas Cake
Serves 8
Ingredients
175g mixed blackberries and blueberries (if the blackberries are very large, cut them in half)
175g self-raising flour
½ tsp baking powder
175g unsalted butter, at room temperature
175g caster sugar
3 medium eggs, beaten
75g ground almonds
Few drops almond essence
To decorate:
175g (6oz) icing sugar
4-5 tsp cold water
3 tbsp toasted flaked almonds
Few extra blackberries and blueberries or a few halved strawberries
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4. Grease a 23cm diameter or 1.5 litre fluted ring mould or bundt tin.
2. Add the blackberries and blueberries to a small bowl with 2 tablespoons of the flour and gently stir together until the berries are coated. Add baking powder to the remaining flour.
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually mix in alternate spoonfuls of beaten egg and remaining flour, beating well after each addition and continuing until all has been added.
4. Stir in the ground almonds and almond essence, then fold in the flour coated berries.
5. Spoon the mixture into the cake tin and level the top. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until well risen, the top is golden and a skewer comes out cleanly when inserted into the cake.
6. Leave to cool for 30 minutes, then loosen the edges of the mould, turn out on to a wire rack and remove the mould. Leave to cool completely.
7. Sift the icing sugar into a bowl, gradually mix in just enough water to mix to a smooth icing that will slowly fall from a spoon.
8. Transfer the cake to a serving plate, drizzle the icing over in zig zag lines, decorate with a few extra berries and sprinkle with the flaked almonds. Leave to stand for 15 minutes or so for the icing to set, then serve in thick slices.
Tip: As the cake has lots of fresh fruit in the mixture it is best eaten within 2 days.
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Recipe c/o SeasonalBerries.co.uk