This moist boiled fruit cake is made with 900g of mixed dried fruit, margarine, sugar, brandy, and mixed spice. The boiling method keeps it rich, dense, and packed with flavour. It takes 15 minutes to prepare, 2 hours to bake, and makes 3 generous loaves.
I make this every Christmas and it never disappoints. The smell of brandy and dried fruit simmering away fills the whole kitchen, and one batch keeps the family going for weeks.
Boiled Fruit Cake Ingredients
- 900g mixed dried fruit, raisins, sultanas, chopped nuts, and walnuts
- 350g sugar
- 350g margarine
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 250ml cold water
- 250ml brandy
- 240g plain flour
- 240g self-raising flour
- 4 free-range eggs, beaten
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp mixed spice
- 1 x 200g tub glacé cherries, chopped
How To Make Boiled Fruit Cake
- Boil the fruit mixture: Preheat your oven to 150°C (Gas 3). Grease and line three loaf tins. In a large saucepan, combine the mixed fruit and nuts, sugar, margarine, bicarbonate of soda, water, and brandy. Bring to a boil, then remove from the heat.
- Cool the mixture: Let the boiled fruit mixture cool completely. This step is essential before adding the eggs and flour, or the heat will scramble the eggs.
- Make the batter: Once cool, add the plain flour, self-raising flour, beaten eggs, baking powder, mixed spice, and chopped glacé cherries. Mix with a wooden spoon until just combined.
- Bake the cakes: Divide the batter evenly among the three prepared loaf tins. Bake for about 2 hours, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Cool and store: Let the cakes cool in their tins for about 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, wrap tightly in parchment and then foil to keep fresh.
What Are the Best Tips for Boiled Fruit Cake?
- Cool the mixture fully: Never add eggs to a warm mixture. The heat will cook the eggs and leave you with a lumpy, unpleasant texture.
- Use a round tin instead: You can swap the three loaf tins for one large 20cm round tin. The baking time will increase to around 2.5 hours. If you enjoy baking cakes, try the Hairy Bikers apple cake next.
- Do not overmix: Overmixing develops the gluten in the flour and makes the cake tough and chewy. Stir just until the ingredients come together.
- Feed the cake for Christmas: Poke holes in the top of the cooled cake with a skewer and pour a tablespoon of brandy over it once a week for a few weeks before serving.
What Goes Well With This Cake?
This fruit cake is lovely on its own with a cup of tea or coffee. For a more traditional pairing, serve a slice with a piece of mature Cheddar cheese. A dollop of whipped cream or warm custard also works well if you want something richer.
If you enjoy dried fruit bakes, you might also like the Hairy Bikers Dundee cake, which uses a similar mix of sultanas, currants, and glacé cherries.
How Should You Store This Cake?
This fruit cake does not need to be refrigerated. Wrap it in parchment paper and store in an airtight tin at room temperature for up to two weeks. The brandy helps it stay moist.
It also freezes well. Once completely cool, wrap tightly in a double layer of cling film, then a layer of foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before unwrapping.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Total Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
- Sodium: 150mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 45g
- Dietary Fibre: 2g
- Sugars: 30g
- Protein: 5g
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you boil the fruit before baking? Boiling plumps up the dried fruit and dissolves the sugar and butter into the liquid. This gives you a moist, rich cake without needing to soak the fruit for weeks in advance.
Can I make boiled fruit cake without alcohol? Yes. Replace the brandy with the same amount of apple juice or orange juice. The cake will still be moist, though the flavour will be lighter and it will not keep quite as long.
How does Hairy Bikers boiled fruit cake compare to Mary Berry’s? Both use a boiling method, but the Hairy Bikers version uses brandy and makes three loaves, while Mary Berry’s is a single cake that tends to be lighter. The Hairy Bikers recipe produces a denser, more boozy result.
Can I use different dried fruits? Yes. The recipe works with any combination of raisins, sultanas, currants, dried apricots, or dates. Just keep the total weight at 900g. If you enjoy citrus bakes, try adding some dried orange peel.
What is mixed spice? Mixed spice is a British spice blend that typically includes cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. You will find it in the baking aisle of most supermarkets.
You May Also Like:
- Hairy Bikers Plum Crumble With Oats Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Dundee Cake Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Lemon Drizzle Cake Recipe
Hairy Bikers Boiled Fruit Cake Recipe
Description
This boiled fruit cake is made by simmering mixed dried fruit, margarine, sugar, and brandy together before folding in plain flour, self-raising flour, eggs, and mixed spice. The boiling method creates a rich, moist cake that keeps well and makes 3 generous loaves.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Boil the fruit mixture: Preheat oven to 150°C (Gas 3). Grease and line three loaf tins. Combine the mixed fruit and nuts, sugar, margarine, bicarbonate of soda, water, and brandy in a large pan. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and cool completely.
- Make the batter: Once cooled, stir in the plain flour, self-raising flour, beaten eggs, baking powder, mixed spice, and chopped glacé cherries until just combined.
- Bake: Divide the batter among the three loaf tins and bake at 150°C for about 2 hours, or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Cool and store: Let the cakes cool in the tins for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack. Wrap in parchment and foil once fully cooled.
