Sticky Date Cake

Method

• step 1

  Preheat the oven to 170C/340F/gas 3. Grease and line 20cm/8inch cake tin

• step 2

  Place the raisins, dates, sultanas,and currents into a pan together with the butter, water and condensed milk. Slowly bring to the boil, stirring frequently to prevent the mixture from burning. Reduce the heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes

• step 3

  Transfer the mixture to a heatproof bowl and set aside to cool

• step 4

  Mix together the wholemeal flour, plain flour, salt and bicarbonate of soda in a separate bowl

• step 5

  When the fruit mixture has cooled, fold it into the flour along with the marmalade until smooth and well combined. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin

• step 6

  Cover the tin with a double layer of baking parchmonet, then bake the cake in the oven for 13/4 hour, or until the cake is springy to touch and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean

• step 7

  To serve, allow the cake to coll for 10 minutes in the tin before turning out onto a cooling rack