My Mother’s salt-baked Christmas cake

220g mixed peel

280g golden raisins

270g golden sultanas

350g currants

250mls dark rum

220g muscovado sugar

220g soft butter

5 medium eggs, lightly beaten

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp mixed cake spice

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp ground ginger

275g plain flour, sieved

180g Amarena cherries washed, strained from the syrup and chopped

Zest 3 oranges

120g mixed pecan nuts, finely chopped

2 medium-sized cooking apples, cored, peeled and grated

½ glass of sherry