1 December 2018
Susan Kaye, or ‘Sue the baker’, as we like to call her, often makes delicious treats for her local Wellington Free team in Kāpiti.
“They support everyone in the community so much during the year, and they deserve recognition. This is something I can do to say thank you.”
Sue’s made a simple three-ingredient Christmas cake for her local Wellington Free team.
“It’s very easy to make, and when the team have a few spare minutes, they can have a cup of coffee and piece of cake to give them fuel for the next job.”
Sue’s final tip for the festive season is to enjoy it with family and friends.
“So, on that note, I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a very happy 2019!”
Sue’s Christmas Cake recipe
Sue follows a really easy recipe from Annabel Langbien, but adds a few ingredients of her own to give it the special Sue treatment!
“I glazed it with plum jam, added the almonds then glazed it again with melted honey. I think it looks more Christmas like with the almonds.”
To get yourself ready this Christmas, follow the simple instructions below:
Place dried fruit in a bowl, cover with milk and leave to soak overnight in the fridge.
The next day, preheat oven to 160°C and line a medium (23cm diameter) springform cake tin with baking paper.
Stir flour into fruit mixture until evenly combined and smooth into prepared tin. Bake until it is risen, set and golden and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean (check after about 1¼ hours and return to oven for a little longer if needed). Remove from oven and, while still hot, brush with sherry, rum or whisky, if using. Cool in the tin before turning out. Stored in an airtight container, it will keep for 3-4 weeks.
Just before serving, dust with icing sugar, using paper doily cut-outs or snowflake stencils to create festive patterns.
Tips
For a vegan version use almond milk instead of milk. Fruit juice and ginger ale also work well.
For a gluten-free version use gluten-free self-raising flour and if you are highly sensitive to gluten use sherry or rum instead of whiskey.
