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In keeping with Irish tradition serve this cake on Christmas. If you are looking for a more traditional Christmas cake, try this Irish Christmas Cake recipe.

Irish Christmas Cake Ingredients

• 1 cup of raisins
• 1 cup of golden raisins
• 1 cup of dried sour cherries; dried Cranberries or raisins
• 1 cup of dried apricots; chopped
• 1 cup of dried pitted prunes; chopped
• 1/4 cup of candied orange peel; finely chopped
• 1/2 cup plus 3 tbsp. of Irish whiskey
• 1 1/2 cups or 3 sticks of unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 2 1/2 cups of sugar
• 8 eggs (extra-large)
• 1 tbsp. of grated lemon peel
• 1 tbsp. of fresh lemon juice
• 2 tsp. of vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. of salt
• 1/2 tsp. of ground nutmeg
• 3 cups of cake flour
• 2 cups of slivered almonds
• 3 7-ounce pkgs of marzipan
• Powdered sugar

Preparing and Baking Your Irish Christmas Cake

Combine the first six ingredients in a bowl and add 1/2 cup of Irish whiskey. Let stand overnight, stirring occasionally.

Place oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325° Fahrenheit. Butter a 10" diameter tube pan. Line bottom of pan with parchment or wax paper. Butter parchment and sprinkle with flour. With an electric mixer, beat the butter in a large bowl until light. Add 2-1/2 cups sugar and continue beating until fluffy. One at a time, beat in the eggs, then add the lemon peel and juice, vanilla, salt and nutmeg. Mix in the flour. Fold in almonds and dried fruit mixture. Pour into the pan and spread evenly.

Bake the cake until a check with a toothpick comes out clean, approximately 1 hour 50 minutes. Brush a tablespoon of Irish whiskey over the cake. Cool for 5 minutes. Turnout cake onto a rack. Brush with remaining 2 tablespoons of Irish whiskey. Allow the cake to cool completely.

Press marzipan into disk. Dust work surface heavily with powdered sugar. Roll out marzipan to 14" round. Turn cake right side up; place on platter. Drape marzipan over cake, pressing to mold around cake. Cut cross in center and press center points into opening.

Cover tightly and store at room temperature. Can be made one day ahead.

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