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Golden peach Christmas cakes

Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for golden peach Christmas cakes.

By Emma Knowles, Lisa Featherby & Adelaide Lucas
  • 30 mins preparation
  • 1 hr 10 mins cooking plus cooling, standing
  • Serves 6
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Golden peach Christmas cakes
This recipe makes 6 cakes.

Ingredients

  • 520 gm dried fruit, such as peaches, apricots, pears or figs, finely chopped
  • 400 gm glacé peaches, finely chopped
  • 300 gm sultanas
  • 160 gm dates, seeded, coarsely chopped
  • 100 gm candied orange rind, finely chopped
  • 2 peaches, stones removed, finely chopped
  • 1 lemon, juice and thinly peeled rind only
  • 300 ml brandy
  • 80 ml Grand Marnier and peach liqueur
  • 335 gm (2¼ cups) plain flour
  • ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 2 tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp each ground cinnamon and cloves
  • 325 gm butter, softened
  • 280 gm raw caster sugar
  • 1 vanilla bean, scraped seeds only
  • 4 eggs
  • 500 gm fondant (see note)
  • For dusting: pure icing sugar

Method

Main
  • 1
    Preheat oven to 150C. Combine dried, candied and fresh fruit, rind and juice, 200ml brandy, Grand Marnier and peach liqueur in a large saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until alcohol is absorbed (8-10 minutes). Cool, discard lemon rind.
  • 2
    Sieve flour, bicarbonate of soda, spices and ½ teaspoon salt into a bowl.
  • 3
    Beat butter, sugar and vanilla seeds in an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, then add vanilla seeds and beat until just combined. Stir in dry ingredients alternately with macerated fruit until just combined.
  • 4
    Divide mixture among six greased 10cm-diameter deep cake tins. Cover tops tightly with baking paper, tie with string, cover with aluminium foil and bake until a skewer withdraws clean (50 minutes-1 hour). Stand in tins for 10 minutes, remove and drizzle with remaining brandy.
  • 5
    Roll out fondant to 4mm-thick on a work surface dusted with sieved pure icing sugar and cut out six 10cm-diameter rounds. Place a round on top of each cake and top with orange meringue frosting (see short-order recipe below) if desired. Cakes can be wrapped in foil and stored in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

Notes

Fondant is available from supermarkets and cake decorating shops. Orange meringue frosting
Combine 165gm caster sugar and 100ml water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until syrup reaches 121C on a sugar thermometer (10-15 minutes). Meanwhile, whisk 2 eggwhites with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. With motor running, add sugar syrup in a thin steady stream. Increase speed to high and whisk until cooled to room temperature and meringue is thick and glossy (15-20 minutes). Whisk in finely grated rind of 1 orange and 40ml Grand Marnier, to taste.
Drink Suggestion: Strong cuppa tea. Drink suggestion by Max Allen

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  • undefined: Emma Knowles, Lisa Featherby & Adelaide Lucas