Last-minute Brandied Christmas Cake

Begin the cake a few hours before you want to make it (or even the night before) and simply place all the pre-soaking ingredients into a bowl, stir really well, then cover with a cloth and leave in a cool place.

When you are ready to make the cake, take a roomy bowl and simply place the soaked ingredients plus all the rest of the cake ingredients in it, all in one go (it’s helpful to tick them off as they go in). Now, preferably using an electric hand whisk (or a wooden spoon), beat everything together as thoroughly as possible, which will probably take about 1 minute. Then pour it into the prepared tin, level the top and arrange the whole nuts in rows across the surface – one row of Brazils, one of pecans, and so on.

Finally, cover the top of the cake with a double square of silicone paper (baking parchment) with a hole the size of a 50p piece cut in the centre. Then place the cake on the centre shelf of the oven and bake it for about 2 hours or until the centre springs back when lightly touched. Then let it cool in the tin for 30 minutes before turning it out to finish cooling on a wire rack, removing the lining papers.

The finishing touch is to heat the apricot jam and brandy together and brush the nuts with the mixture to give them a lovely glaze. Store the cake in an airtight tin or in double greaseproof paper and foil and it will keep beautifully moist for 3 to 4 weeks. For a festive touch you might like to tie a ribbon and bow all round for the big day.