Spiced Chocolate Christmas Cake

Spiced Chocolate Christmas Cake is for those who are not keen on traditional fruit-packed booze-infused Christmas cake. It’s a yummy, fudgy chocolate cake with all the flavours of Christmas thanks to the addition of spices and orange zest. It's really quick and easy to make plus it's made without butter which makes it a bit healthier too. It keeps well for 4 – 5 days, provided it doesn’t get eaten before then!

This recipe is dedicated to all the lovely mummies who were on my Healthy Eating BTEC course: Annie, Emma, Su, Michelle, Julia, Tracy, Raminder and our lovely teacher Sharon. Today was the session which was a bit sad, but we cheered ourselves up my munching this yummy cake!

Time:  15 mins start to finish
Cost:  24p per serving
Calories:  350 per serving

Spiced Chocolate Christmas Cake: Serves 12 - 14

• 200g self raising white flour & 100g self-raising wholemeal flour (or 300g self-raising flour)
• 225g brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons runny honey
• 100g cocoa powder
• 3 eggs
• 250ml milk
• 150ml oil
• Zest and juice of two oranges
• 75g chopped nuts
• 75g dried cranberries or sultanas (optional)
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp mixed spice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 
• Icing sugar for dredging (optional)
• Chopped nuts, orange zest etc to decorate (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 180 C / gas mark 4.
2. Place all of the ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon, or electric whisk, beat the mixture until smooth and well combined.
3. Pour the mixture into a greased cake tin or springform tin and bake for around 30 -40 minutes until a knife just comes out clean - do not overbake it, it is meant to have a brownie-like consistency!
4. Leave to cool. Dredge with icing sugar and decorate with some orange zest and/or chopped nuts before serving if you wish.

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Comments

[Laurellen]

Will definitely try this as I don't like the traditional fruit cake! Sounds like a nice alternative.x