This show-stopping festive recipe from Donna Hay’s new book Christmas Feasts and Treats is a guaranteed Christmas favourite
IMAGE: CHRIS COURT (STYLING BY STEVE PEARCE)
Chocolate Christmas Cake with Quince Glaze
Ingredients
- 1½ cups (260g) pitted prunes
- 1½ teaspoons bicarbonate of baking soda
- 1 cup (250ml) boiling water
- 1½ cups (240g) dried currants
- ¾ cup (180ml) rum
- 85 g unsalted butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups (260g) light brown sugar
- 1½ tablespoons finely grated orange rind
- 6 eggs
- 1½ cups (225g) self-raising (self-raising) flour sifted
- ⅓ cup (35g) cocoa powder sifted
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- 150 g dark chocolate melted
chocolate quince glaze
- 300 g store-bought quince jelly
- 50 g dark chocolate finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 160°C (325°F). Grease a 2.75-litre bundt tin. Place the prunes, bicarbonate of soda and water in a medium bowl, mix to combine and allow to stand for 10−15 minutes. Using a hand-held stick blender, blend the mixture into a puree and set aside.
- Place the currants and rum in a small saucepan over high heat. Cook, stirring, for 5–6 minutes or until plump. Set aside.
- Place the butter, vanilla, sugar and orange rind in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat for 10−12 minutes or until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, allspice, chocolate and the fruit mixtures. Beat to combine.
- Pour the mixture into the tin and bake for 1 hour or until cooked when tested with a skewer. Invert onto a wire rack and allow to cool in the tin for 10–15 minutes. Remove the tin and allow to cool completely.
- To make the chocolate quince glaze, place the quince jelly in a small saucepan over medium heat and whisk until melting. Add the chocolate and whisk to combine. Bring to the boil and cook, whisking, for 2–3 minutes or until thickened. Allow to cool at room temperature.
- Place the cake on a cake stand or plate and pour the glaze over just before serving. Serves 12-14.
Recipe from Christmas Feasts and Treats by Donna Hay, published by Fourth Estate. RRP £20
