• In a wide bowl, add room temperature butter and beat until it turns creamy and fluffy consistency.
• To the butter, add caster sugar and cane sugar and beat it until it is well combined.
• Add in condensed milk and whip to a smooth texture as shown.
• To the mixture, add in freshly grated orange zest and freshly squeezed orange juice and whisk until it combines.
• Now goes in Home made Dark Treacle – Part 2 which gives the beautiful colour to the Christmas cake. I added four tablespoons, which I felt sufficient. You can add or less the quantity according to the colour and sweetness of the cake.
• For the flavour, add allspice mix powder. It is nothing but clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg altogether powdered and used for baking.
• Sieve all-purpose flour, baking powder, and baking soda together and gently fold with a spatula. Remember not to use an electric hand beater.
• Finally, add in chopped nuts ( dusted in flour) and soaked dry fruits ( dusted in flour) and mix gently until the nuts and fruits are evenly mixed.
• The cake batter is ready to go into the oven. Though the cake batter looks slightly thick, this is the correct consistency to bake.
• Transfer the cake batter to a loaf pan or any shape pan. Garnish some nuts as per your wish. I used pecans and cashews as I love them the most.
• Preheat oven to 170* C and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 160*C and bake for about 20 to 30 minutes until inserted skewer comes out clean with moist crumbs. Remember, every oven behaves differently. So have an eye after 40 minutes.
• After baking, let it cool completely. Transfer the cake to a cooling rack. Brush the cake with alcohol like rum, brandy, or red wine. I brush with red wine I use for soaking the dry fruits.
• Slice the cake with a serrated knife and serve as it is or with a cuppa coffee or milk.

HOW TO FEED EGGLESS CHRISTMAS CAKE

• After baking, poke the cake with a skewer. Brush(feed) the cake with wine on top and side of the cake. Feed the cake twice a week to keep the cake moist, and it also acts as a preservative.