240ml(1 cup) strong teablack tea or herbal tea such as cinnamon
2tbspbrandy or spiced rum(optional)
250g(2 ⅙ cups) pumpkin puréesee notes about homemade
4tbspSukrin Gold or brown sugar
2large eggs, lightly beaten
Zest of 1 orange
100g(¾ cups) wholemeal flour
100g(¾ cups) plain flour(all purpose)
1tspbicarbonate of soda(baking soda)
2tspmixed spice
½ground cinnamon
½ground ginger
Pinchcloves
Glaze (optional)
4tbsppowdered Sukrin
A little water
Decorations
Rosemary sprigs
Instructions
Brew the tea, using 3 black tea bags and leave to steep for 5 minutes. You can also use herbal tea such as cinnamon or spiced apple.
Place the mixed dried fruit in a bowl and add the hot tea and brandy if using. Leave the fruit for a couple of hours, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed and fruit has plumped up. You can do this overnight if you like.
Preheat the oven to 160C (305F) or 140C (285F) Fan Setting. Mist a 20cm/ 8 inch square cake tin with cake release spray or grease with flour and line baking parchment, letting the edges overhang slightly.
Put the pumpkin purée, sweetener, eggs, orange zest in a bowl and stir together.
Stir in the dried fruit, mixing well.
Sift the spices, salt, soda bicarb and flour over the bowl. Mix well until no dry streaks remain.
Spoon the batter into your prepared tin and level.
Bake for about 60 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean and the cake feels firm to the touch.
Lift the cake out of the tin and place on a wire rack to cool.
Mix the powdered sweetener with a tiny bit of water until you have a glaze. Drizzle over the cake (optional). Decorate with rosemary sprigs.
Slice to serve or keep well wrapped with greaseproof paper and foil for up to three days at room temperature.
Making Your Own Pumpkin or Butternut squash puréeBoil 250g (11 oz) cubed squash or pumpkin for 15-20 minutes or until fork tender. Drain well, pat dry and use a food processor or immersion blender to blitz into a smooth purée. Make sure to cool the purée before using it in the fruit cake, otherwise it might scramble the eggs!