Preparation of Christmas cake

1. Preparation of Christmas cake: Step 1: Set the oven’s temperature to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4. Butter should be used to grease and line a 20 cm round spring form cake pan. Place the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, black raisins, cloves, 50g of caster sugar, red wine, and plums in a pot. Simmer the mixture for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the plums are tender. Turn off the heat and let the food cool completely. Drain the plums after they have cooled, saving the mulled wine syrup for later. Throw away the spices and orange slices, and set the plums aside. Step 2: To create the cake batter, whip the butter and remaining caster sugar with an electric mixer for 3 to 4 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add the one egg at a time, whisking well after each addition. Stir in the flour, almonds, baking powder, and ginger after adding them. Step 3: Place the cooked plums, cut-side up, on top of the batter in the prepared cake mould. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a skewer put in the center of the cake comes out clean. Step 4: Prepare the topping while waiting. In a roasting pan, place the cut-side-up plum pieces, and add the brown sugar, orange juice, and cinnamon stick. The final 25 minutes of baking the cake should be spent roasting it in the oven. Step 5: Warm up the reserved mulled wine syrup in a small pot while the cake and plums simmer. For a few minutes, let it simmer and reduce until it becomes silky and syrupy.