Christmas cake

Ingredients

* 1/2 lb butter, softened
* 1 cup sugar
* 2 tablespoons browning sauce (helps to darken the cake, especially if you don't use dark rum in the cake) (optional)
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon allspice
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 4 large eggs
* 1 cup dark rum (brandy can be substituted, as can red wine)
* 1/4 lb mixed peel
* 1/4 lb cherries
* 1/4 lb mixed nut, of your choice (unsalted) or nuts, of your choice
* 1/2 lb prune, chopped
* 1 lb raisins
* 1 lime, zest of, freshly grated
* 1 lemon, zest of

Directions

1.
1
Preheat oven to 325°F; spray a nine-inch cake pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
2.
2
In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, vanilla and browning until soft and creamy.
3.
3
In a separate bowl, sift together the dry ingredients.
4.
4
In a third bowl, beat the eggs with the rum.
5.
5
Add egg mixture to butter mixture and thoroughly combine, then stir in zest, fruit and nuts.
6.
6
Fold in flour mixture; do not overbeat.
7.
7
Put batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for approximately 90 minutes, or until cake tests done; may need longer.
8.
8
Remove cake from pan when cool