If THE MAD HATTER, THE DORMOUSE AND THE MARCH HARE were Vegetarian...

...perhaps they might serve this at their tea party.


COLD TEA FRUIT CAKE

125g self-raising flour
200g plain flour
¼ tsp salt
1tsp ground mixed spice
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
250g butter
250g soft brown sugar
5 free range eggs
50ml strained cold tea
1½ tsp vanilla extract
750g mixed fruit (currants/ seedless raisins/ sultanas/ dates/ prunes)
75g cut mixed peel
75g chopped glace cherries

Grease and line a 23cm (9in) round or 20cm (8in) square cake tin, using a double thickness of greaseproof paper.
Sift the flours into a bowl with the salt, spices, cinnamon and nutmeg.
In another large bowl, cream the butter with the sugar until light.
Lightly beat together the eggs, tea and vanilla extract. Then, beat half the egg mixture into the creamed mixture. Fold in one-third of the mixed flours. Continue to add the egg and flour mixtures alternately.
Mix in all the remaining ingredients. Turn into the prepared tin and smooth the top.
Bake in a preheated oven 140C/ 275F/gas1, for about 3-3 ½ hours until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
Leave to cool before turning out onto a wire rack.