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  • 175g butter, plus extra for greasing
  • 450g mixed dried fruit
  • Grated zest and juice 1 orange
  • 175 g light muscovado sugar
  • 200 ml porter, Guinness or caffrey's
  • 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 3 beaten eggs
  • 300 g plain flour
  • 2 tsp mixed spice

FOR THE TOPPING

  • 175g butter, plus extra for greasing
  • 450g mixed dried fruit
  • Grated zest and juice 1 orange
  • 175 g light muscovado sugar
  • 200 ml porter, Guinness or caffrey's
  • 1tsp bicarbonate of soda
  • 3 beaten eggs
  • 300 g plain flour
  • 2 tsp mixed spice
  • 2 tbsp flaked almonds
  • 2 tbsp Demerara sugar
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    Method

    • step 1

      Heat oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas2. Butter and line the base of a deep 20 cm round cake tin. Put the butter, dried fruit, orange zest and juice, sugar and porter in a large pan. Bring slowly to the boil, stirring until the boil, stirring until the butter has dissolved, then simmer for 15 mins.
    • step 2

      Cool for 10 mins, then stir in the bicarbonate of soda. The mixture will foam up, but don't worry, this is normal.
    • step 3

      Stir the eggs into the pan, then sift in the flour and spice, then mix well. Pour into the prepared tin, smooth the top with the back of a spoon and sprinkle with the flaked almonds and Demerara sugar. Bake for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hrs. cool in the tin for 15 mins, then turn out and cool on a wire rack.
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    Comments, questions and tips (6)

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    Overall rating

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.8 ratings

    troubled

    question

    can you freeze porter cake?

    goodfoodteam avatar
    goodfoodteam

    Hi, thanks for your questions. Yes you can freeze the cake without the topping. Best wishes, BBC Good Food Team.

    troubled

    question

    how long to store it

    Dryrotter

    Really nice moist fruitcake After simmering the fruit I added some glacé cherries as I like these in any fruitcake. Try it warmed with some custard on it 👌

    This has been removed

    June Doherty

    A star rating of 5 out of 5.

    Been making this Porter Cake for the last couple of years. My family and friends really love it. Less rich than traditional Xmas Cake, so give as Xmas presents.

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