Sultana Cake (scottish)

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients

• 8 ounces sultanas (seedless raisins)
• 4 ounces butter or 4 ounces firm margarine, cut up into small pieces
• 6 ounces sugar
• 6 ounces self raising flour (or all-purpose flour with baking powder)
• 2 small eggs, beaten
• 2 ounces chopped nuts (optional)
• 3 drops almond essence
• 1 pinch salt

Recipe

• 1 cover the sultanas in water and let them soak overnight.
• 2 bring the water and sultanas to the boil and then strain off the water.
• 3 mix in the butter or margarine while the sultanas are still hot.
• 4 mix in the sugar, beaten eggs and almond essence.
• 5 sift in the flour and salt and then add in the chopped nuts (if desired).
• 6 mix well.
• 7 grease an 8" round baking tin and line the bottom with greased, greaseproof paper (vegetable parchment or waxed paper).
• 8 pour in the cake mixture and smooth the top.
• 9 bake in a moderate oven at 350f for 30 minutes.
• 10 reduce the heat to 300f until the centre is firm to the touch.
• 11 empty cake from the baking tin and store in an airtight container.