Christmas Cake Made Easy

Christmas Cake Made Easy Ingredients:
1 tsp Baking Powder
150g Mixed Peel
3 tbsp Treacle
70g Blanched Almonds, plus extra for decorating
425g Icing, and nuts and cherries to decorate.
1kg Fruit Cake Mix
150mls Orange Juice
750g Almond Paste
2 tsp Mixed Spice
Zest of 1 Lemon, finely grated
250g Raisins
250g Brown Sugar
250g Butter
5 Eggs
350g Standard Flour
Directions:
Place all fruit, port, brandy, orange juice and treacle into a large pan. Bring to the boil, then simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Stir frequently. Set aside to soak for 4 hours. Pre-heat oven to 140c. Butter and line cake tin with double thickness baking paper, cover the sides and base with several thickness of newspaper, secure with string. Place butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder and spice into a large bowl. Beat until smooth. Add the almonds and soaked fruit. Mix to combine, pour into cake tin. Smooth over, then bake for 3 1/2 - 4 hours. Cool and remove from tin. Wrap in baking paper. If desired, decorate with almond paste and royal icing 1 week prior to Christmas.