187g block margarine
187g caster sugar
4 eggs at room temperature
246g Plain Flour
1 level teaspoon Baking Powder
I teaspoon ground mixed spice
246 g Dried Fruit (sultanas, currants, raisins, chopped dates, chopped mixed peel, glace´ cherries cut into quarters, dried apricots chopped)
Demerara sugar to decorate

1. Pre-heat the oven to 145ºC Fan oven, 140ºC Conventional oven, Gas Mark 3.
2. Cream the margarine and sugar together until light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating each one in well.
4. Sift together the flour, baking powder and spice.
5. Gently fold the flour into the mixture followed by the dried fruit.
6. Transfer to the prepared cake tin and place into the oven for approximately 2 hours, until a skewer comes out clean and the cake is golden brown.
7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes before taking out of the tin and allowing to fully cool on a rack.
8. Sprinkle with the sugar before serving.