Instructions: Preheat oven to gas mark 2 300 degrees F150C. Youll also need a 900g loaf tin lined and greased.

In a large mixing bowl cream the butter and sugar together until its pale light and fluffy then beat in the treacle and orange zest.

Next add the eggs a little at a time beating well after each addition and after that fold in the sifted flour and spices followed by the fruit peel and walnuts.

Lastly add the rum and brown ale and continue to fold all this in carefully. Spoon the mixture into the loaf tin level off the surface and bake in the oven for 1 hour.

After that reduce the temperature to gas mark 1 275F 140C and cook for a further 1 3/4 hours.

During the final 45 minutes of the cooking time cover the loaf with a double thickness of greaseproof paper to prevent the top from burning.

Leave to cool in the tin for a while before turning out on to a wire tray to get quite cold.

Makes one 2 lb loaf

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