LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2022

to make the cake for a spring wedding, substitute candied pineapple for the apricots and decorate the finished cake with a mix of fresh berries.

a blend of dry sherries (from the Palomino grape) and sweet (from the Pedro Ximénez). The result has many of the tangy, nutty rancio aromas of an amontillado sherry with a nicely judged streak of sweetness. Usually, a drink should be a touch sweeter than the dessert it’s paired with, but here the 19.5 per cent alcohol fortification acts like a suit of shining armour to protect the wine’s integrity. Soaking the recipe’s dried fruit in the same sherry helps turn the pairing from a handshake to a loving embrace.

The fondant icing looks fabulously festive but this

4. HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE P. 232

cake would be just as delicious with a simpler frosting such as buttercream or royal icing—or no icing at all, in which case, a jug of icewine-infused custard sauce would turn it into a magical dessert. Adding different spices to the mix is another way to customize the recipe. A little allspice, cloves or ground ginger contribute an autumnal flavour. A pinch of five-spice powder adds an East Asian nuance. If you were to use this recipe

NOT-SO-DRY SACK Bourbon or brandy are viable alternatives in the recipe, but we preferred sherry—specifically Williams &Humbert Dry Sack (LCBO 13565, $14.95)—as both an ingredient and the accompaniment. This one is