Farmhouse Dripping Cake Recipe

225 g/8 oz dried mixed fruit (fruit cake mix)

75 g/3 oz beef dripping (shortening)

150 g/5 oz soft brown sugar

250 ml/8 fl oz/1 cup water

225 g/8 oz/2 cups wholemeal (wholewheat) flour

5 ml/1 teaspoon baking powder

2.5 ml/½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

5 ml/1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

A pinch of grated nutmeg

A pinch of ground cloves

Method:

Bring the fruit, dripping, sugar and water to the boil in a heavy-based pan and simmer for 10 minutes. Leave to cool. Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl, then pour in the melted mixture and blend together gently. Spoon into a greased and lined 18 cm/7 in cake tin (pan) and bake in a preheated oven at 180ºC/350ºF/gas mark 4 for 1½ hours until well risen and shrinking away from the sides of the tin.