A Rich Fruit Cake

Ingredients

• 4 pounds flour
• 4 pounds butter
• 2 pounds loaf sugar
• 1/4 pound mace
• 1/4 pound nutmegs
• 4 pounds currants
• 1 pound sweet almonds
• 2 pounds raisins
• 2 pounds citron
• 30 eggs
• 1/2 pint brandy

Instructions

1. Have the following articles prepared before you begin the cake: four pounds of flour dried and sifted; four pounds of butter washed to free it from salt; two pounds of loaf sugar pounded; a quarter of a pound of mace, and the same of nutmegs powdered.
2. Wash four pounds of currants clean, pick and dry them.
3. Blanch one pound of sweet almonds, and cut them in very thin slices.
4. Stone two pounds of raisins, cut them in two, and strew a little flour over to prevent their sticking together; and two pounds of citron sliced thin.
5. Break thirty eggs, separating the yelks and whites.
6. Work the butter to a cream with your hand.
7. Put in alternately flour, sugar, and the froth from both whites and yelks, which must be beaten separately, and only the froth put in.
8. When all are mixed and the cake looks very light, add the spice, with half a pint of brandy, the currants and almonds.
9. Butter the mould well, pour in part of the cake, and strew over it some raisins and citron; do this until all is in.
10. Set it in a well heated oven.
11. When it has risen and the top is coloured, cover it with paper.
12. It will require three hours baking. It must be iced.