To make this easy mixed fruit cake you literally just need to mix a few ingredients in 3 bowls, combine and then bake! I used bananas because my husband loves bananas, and they were a few banana going too soft. To not waste, I decided to make banana fruit cakes. Now let’s get started, oil and dust with some flour and line the loaf tin with baking paper. You can also use 2 smaller tins or a combination, it doesn't matter as long as it tastes great at the end! I have made then in various sizes of tins, and this is mainly because I don't have 2 of the same size tins, because am not a professional ok. Ideally use baking paper as it makes it much easier to bring out, alternatively use a silicone tin and it will just pop out! Heat your oven to 190 degrees, this recipe is very wet, so it needs to cook at a high temperature and for a long time. Tip, if the top is getting too dark and it still needs to bake, cover the top with foil.

In a large bowl, mash your bananas into a puree and grab a small bowl to whish your eggs. To the small bowl add the other wet ingredients - orange and vanilla extracts, melted butter. If you are using an orange, zest the orange into the banana puree and squeeze the orange juice too, mind the seeds. Once combined, add the wet ingredients from the small bowl into the large bowl. This will not be a smooth mixture and that's ok, just ensure it is combined.

Set aside and move to the dry ingredients. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl, wholemeal flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sliced pecan nuts, brown sugar, mixed spice, and mixed fruit in a medium bowl. Once all is incorporated, add to your large bowl and ensure there are no dry spots. There is a massive tendency to overeat over Christmas, and so a way to curb this is by adding nutritious ingredients such as the wholemeal flour, fruit and pecans filled with protein, healthy fats, and fiber. This helps to fill you faster and not eat as many servings, at least that's the hope haha!

Now, pour the batter into your loaf tin (or whatever cake tin you have). Make sure it is not full to the brim as this will overflow. It is a really wet mixture so it needs to cook for a long time, but this also means you get a super moist loaf cake, yum!

Cover with your toppings of choice- cranberries, oat or more mixed fruit. Make it your own whatever you decide, these little joys make cooking and baking fun.

Bake for 50 - 55 mins, using a toothpick or something similar, poke to make sure its dry after about 45mins to ensure it’s done without getting too dry. Allow to cool for 5-10 mins and tuck in with your favourite hot beverage with friends and family. This makes a lovely breakfast or afternoon tea or a midday snack, you choose!

These store well in a cake container on the counter for a couple of days and few more days in the fridge. They freeze well in slices and work amazing for increasing the variety of breakfast for weeks to come! But its Christmas, so loads of visiting friends and family so this will disappear quickly. You could even make 2, to gift loved ones when you visit.

Have a lovely Christmas and I hope you get to relax and spend time with those you love.

Let me know in the comments how easy this was for you and do share my blog if you've found it useful 😊