Church Cake is a classic English cake recipe known for its rich and spiced flavor, often enjoyed at church events and festive gatherings. It features a delightful combination of dried fruits, spices, and a moist texture.
Ingredients
Scale:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
A dash of allspice
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup raisins
1 cup currants
1 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
A handful of candied ginger
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C) and prepare a 9-inch round cake pan by greasing it and lining the bottom with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Set aside.
In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Beat in the eggs one at a time, ensuring each is well incorporated before adding the next. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Gradually add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, alternating with the orange juice, starting and ending with the flour.
Gently fold in the raisins, currants, dried apricots, and walnuts.
Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 to 75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
