Norma's rich fruit cake

Step 1

Chop the raisins, mixed peel and cherries into sultana-sized pieces. Place the chopped fruit with the sultanas in a large bowl, add the rum and stir to combine. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside, stirring occasionally, for 2 hours or overnight, if time permits, to macerate.

Step 2

Position oven shelf so that the rim of the cake pan will be in the centre of oven. Preheat oven to 150°C. Brush a square 25cm cake pan with the butter to grease, and line the base and sides with non-stick baking paper or brown paper. Fold 2 sheets of a broadsheet newspaper 5 times to make 10 layers. Use the newspaper to wrap around the outside of the pan and then secure with unwaxed string.

Step 3

Sift the plain and self-raising flours, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt together into a large bowl and set aside.

Step 4

Use an electric mixer or hand beater to beat the butter and sugars in a large mixing bowl, scraping down the side of the bowl often, until pale and creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well and scraping down the side of the bowl after each addition. If mixture appears curdled during this process, add 1 tablespoon of flour mixture and then continue to add eggs.

Step 5

Use a large metal spoon to fold the flour mixture into the butter mixture in 2 batches. Add to the soaked fruit mixture and use a wooden spoon or your hands to mix until well combined.

Step 6

Spoon the cake mixture into the cake pan. Use a spoon or your hands to spread the mixture evenly in the pan, making sure it fills the corners of the pan, and to pack down firmly. Smooth the surface with wet hands.

Step 7

Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 140°C and bake for a further 3 hours 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Cover the top of the cake with a piece of brown paper or foil if it starts to brown too quickly.

Step 8

Remove cake from oven, wrap the cake in the pan in a large bath towel or several layers of newspaper and leave overnight to cool.

Step 9

Remove cake from the pan and cut into slices to serve.