2 1/2 cups golden raisins (about 12 ounces)
2 cups dark raisins (about 9 ounces)
1 3/4 cups dried currants (about 8 ounces)
1 3/4 cups chopped glacéed fruits (such as red cherries, pineapple, and apricots)
3/4 cup chopped candied orange peel
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoons dark rum
2 teaspoons each grated orange and lemon peels
1 teaspoon Lyle's Golden Syrup or light molasses
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup self-rising flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (2 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups (packed) dark brown sugar
5 large eggs
Mix first 6 ingredients in large saucepan. Add 1/2 cup rum; bring to simmer over medium heat, stirring often. Remove from heat. Mix in grated orange and lemon peels, syrup, and baking soda. Let stand until fruit mixture absorbs liquid, stirring often, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 10-inch-diameter springform pan, then line bottom
and sides of pan with parchment; butter parchment. Sift both flours and salt into medium bowl. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Add flour mixture; beat until just blended. Stir in fruit mixture. Transfer batter to pan. Cover pan with foil.
Bake cake 2 hours. Reduce oven temperature to 275°F; continue to bake covered until tester inserted into center comes out clean but slightly moist, about 30 minutes longer. Transfer to rack; remove foil. Pierce top of cake all over with skewer. Drizzle 6 tablespoons rum very gradually over cake. Cool completely in pan. Cut around pan sides to loosen; remove pan sides. (Can be made 3 weeks ahead. Wrap in foil; chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.)
Makes 12 servings
The cake takes its name from the wife of Jack Turner's former headmaster, but the
recipe is reportedly an ancient Scottish one. Aluminum foil stands in for the traditional newspaper.
User Review
I've made this recipe for years. I offered it in my bakery every year and customers couldn't get enough. It's nothing like the one you buy at a big box store. It was a bit spendy to make but so very worth the cost. Over the years I mixed up the fruits with great success. Use what you like.... and you'll be surprised... you will actually like fruitcake!