Irish Boiled Fruit Cake
A moist, spiced fruit cake where the dried fruit is simmered in tea and butter first, so it needs no creaming and keeps well.
- Time1 hr 50
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £0.35 a head
- Oven160°C (140°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
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Method
- 1
Heat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan). Grease and line a 20 cm round cake tin.
- 2
Put the dried fruit, sugar, butter, tea, bicarbonate and spice in a large pan. Bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring.
10 min - 3
Take off the heat and leave to cool for 20 minutes. The mixture will fizz at first, which is normal.
20 min - 4
Stir in the beaten eggs, then fold in the flour until just combined.
- 5
Scrape into the tin, level the top and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean. Cover with foil after 45 minutes if the top is browning.
75 min - 6
Cool in the tin for 20 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Slice and spread with butter.
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.