Porter cake

 
                                Porter Cake
 
 Recipe By     : Festive Food of Ireland by Darina Allen
 Serving Size  : 20   Preparation Time :0:00
 Categories    : Cakes                            Irish
 
   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
 --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    1      c             butter
    1 1/2  c             brown sugar -- packed
    1 1/4  c             Guinness or stout, or more if desired
                         Zest of one orange
    1      c             sultanas
    1      c             raisins
      1/2  c             mixed candied peel
    4      c             flour
      1/2  tsp           baking soda
    2      tsp           mixed spice
      1/2  c             whole candied cherries
    3                    eggs
 
 Place butter and brown sugar in saucepan and set over medium heat until butter 
 is melted. Stir in Guinness. Add orange zest, sultanas, raisins, and candied pe
 el. Bring mixture to boil and boil 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove 
 from heat and cool until lukewarm.
 
 Sift flour, baking soda, and mixed spice into mixing bowl. Add fruit mixture to
  flour along with cherries. Whisk eggs in small bowl and add gradually to fruit
 -flour mixture, mixing well.
 
 Spoon mixture into greased and floured 9-inch round cake pan. Bake on middle sh
 elf at 350F about 1-1/2 hours. Remove from oven and cool on cake rack. After co
 mpletely cooled, remove from pan. If desired, pierce cake with skewer and pour 
 1/4 cup Guinness over cake to keep it moist. Wrap tightly and let rest overnigh
 t before cutting or serving. If stored in cake tin. Porter Cake will keep well 
 for several weeks.
 
                    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
 NOTES : Mixed spice is a standard ingredient in Irish baking. It can be bought 
 anywhere in Ireland. To make your own, grind together 1 tbl coriander seeds, 1 
 crushed 2 " cinnamon stick, 1 tsp. allspice berries, and 1 teaspoon whole clove
 s. Stir in 1 tbl. freshly grated nutmeg and 2 tsp ground ginger. Store in airti
 ght container and keep in cool place away from light.