Christmas English cake

Preparation:

1. Prepare the ingredients.
2. Brew 250 ml of strong black tea and let it cool.
3. Rinse the dried fruits thoroughly.
4. Pour the dried fruits with tea. Add sugar, 75 ml of rum (or any strong alcohol except vodka).
Mix well to dissolve the sugar. Cover with plastic wrap or a lid and leave overnight (this is a necessary and simple condition).
5. Soak in the evening — bake in the morning.
6. So, morning has come. Preheat the oven to 160° C. Prepare the dried fruits: cut the apricots into 4 pieces.
7. Grate the lemon zest using a fine grater.
8. In a bowl, mix the flour with baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and pepper. Add the lemon zest. Mix well.
9. Add the dried fruits with tea to the flour. Mix well.
10. Lightly beat the eggs.
11. Add the eggs and mix well. You should get a thick mixture like this.
12. Grease the mold with oil and pour the mixture into it.
13. Bake at 160° C for 60-80 minutes. Place on a rack to cool. When well cooled, remove it. You can carefully run a sharp knife along the edges to make it easier to remove.
Decorate with powdered sugar (optional). This is how festive it looks when cut.
14. The cake is ready!