Christmas Cake

Ingredients

• 1 cup Ghee, घी
• 1 cup Jaggery powder, गुड़ पाउडर

For Batter

• 2 cups Refined flour, मैदा
• ½ tsp Baking powder (optional) बेकिंग पाउडर
• ¼ tsp Ginger powder, सौंठ पाउडर
• A big pinch of clove powder, लौंग पाउडर
• A big pinch of cinnamon powder, दालचीनी पाउडर
• A big pinch of nutmeg powder, जायफल पाउडर
• A pinch of black peppercorns, crushed, कुटी हुई काली मिर्च
• ½ tsp Vanilla essence, वनीला एसेंस
• A pinch of salt, नमक
• Melted Ghee & Jaggery powder, पिघला हुआ घी और गुड़ का मिश्रान
• 4 Eggs, अंडा
• ¼ cup Candied Ash gourd & Peta, slice, पेठा
• 1 ½ tsp Marmalade or murabba, मुरब्बा
• ½ tsp Vanilla essence, वनीला एसेंस

For Sugar Syrup

• ¼ cup Sugar, चीनी
• ⅓ cup Water, पानी
• 2 tbsp Rum, रम

For Icing

• ⅓ cup Icing sugar, आइसिंग शुगर
• ½ tsp Lemon juice, नींबू का रस
• Warm water, पानी

For Garnish

• 1 tbsp Desiccated coconut, नारीयल का बुराता
• 5-6 no. Candied cherry, कैंडीड चेरी
• 2 no. Candied Ash gourd & Pets, cut into half, पेठा

Process

1. In a shallow pan, add ghee, once it is melted, add jaggery powder and mix well.
2. Keep aside for further use.

For Batter

1. In a large bowl, add refined flour, ginger powder, clove powder, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder, crushed black peppercorns and mix well.
2. Add a pinch of salt, melted ghee & jaggery powder and mix everything well.
3. Add eggs and make a smooth batter. Add marmalad, vanilla essence and mix well.
4. Grease and line the cake tin with parchment paper.
5. Pour half the batter in the cake tin and layer it with a few peta, pour the other batch of the batter in the tin, layer it with remaining peta and put it in the oven. Bake it at 170°c for 40-45 minutes.
6. Check the cake by pricking the toothpick in the center, if it comes out clear take the cake tin out of the oven.

For Sugar Syrup

1. In a sauce pot, add sugar, water and let it melt on medium flame.
2. Once the sugar is melted, add rum and mix well.
3. Keep aside for further use.

For Icing

1. In a bowl, add icing sugar, lemon juice, warm water and mix it well.
2. Make a semi thick icing and coat the cake.

For Garnish

1. Once the cake is cool, demould the cake on a serving dish.
2. Pour the prepared sugar syrup and let it soak.
3. Spread the icing evenly on the christmas cake, dust some desiccated coconut and top it up with candied cherries.
4. Serve.