Spiced Indian Christmas Cake

1.Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C) and grease a cake pan with butter and dust with flour.

2.In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and all the ground spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and ginger). Mix well and set aside.

3.In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy using a hand mixer or stand mixer.

4.Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5.Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, alternating with the orange juice and rum. Mix until just combined.

6.Fold in the mixed dried fruits, nuts, and candied peel until evenly distributed in the batter.

7.Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and smooth the top with a spatula.

8.Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

9.Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

10.Once cooled, you can optionally decorate the cake with icing, frosting, or additional dried fruits and nuts before serving.