Made two of these this week, hubby says it is a delicious cake. very simple indeed.

12oz mixed fruit
4 oz margarine
6 oz caster sugar
6 oz self raising flour
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 teaspoon mixed spice

Put the fruit in a large saucepan and cover with cold water.
Bring to the boil and then simmer 5 minutes,remove from heat.
Strain the fruit.
Whilst the fruit is still warm add the butter, chopped, and stir until melted in.
Add the sugar and mix well
Add the beaten egg with a little of the flour, the essence and spice.
Stir in the remaining flour and pour into ;-

A loaf tin greased and lined.

Pre heated oven 160c 325f gas 3

Cook 90mins - 2 hours.
Turn out on to a wire tray and leave to cool.

This freezes well.

cheers Penny.

That is so spooky - on the way to work I was letting my mind wander as you do, and thought I must look for a nice easy recipe for a fruit cake to make this week-end !!!!! I am not the best at making cakes, and often have to resort to telling my husband that it is a pudding to serve with custard This one looks easy enough for me.

What size loaf tin please?

Mazzy. 8.1/2 x 4.1/2 x 2.1/2.

Any tin will do but it turns out well from a loaf tin and is easier to cut. Check with a skewer after 90 mins. It may be long enough, depends on how wet it is to start with, I did mine for the full 2 hours but would suggest a little less. Hope you enjoy, this is very simple to make. cheers Penny/

Thanks Penny - I'll report in after the week end