The day before, soak the dried fruits in brandy or apple juice.
Next day, Put the butter, sugar, fruit, zests, juice and 100ml/3½fl oz brandy or juice in a large pan. (For a very moist cake, blend half of the fruit before mixing in saucepan).
Bring slowly to the boil, stirring until the butter has melted. Reduce the heat and bubble for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove the pan from the heat and leave to cool for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 150C/gas 2/ fan 130C and line the cake tin.
Stir the eggs, nuts and ground almonds into the fruit mixture and mix well. Sift the flour, baking powder and spices into the pan. Stir in gently, until there are no traces of flour left.
Spoon the mixture into the tin and smooth it down evenly - you will find this is easiest with the back of a metal spoon which has been dipped into boiling water.
Bake for 45 minutes, then turn down the heat to 140C/gas 1/ fan120C and cook for a further 1-1¼ hours (about a further 1¾ hours if you have a gas oven) until the cake is dark golden in appearance and firm to the touch. Cover the top of the cake with foil if it starts to darken too much. To check the cake is done, insert a fine skewer into the centre - if it comes out clean, the cake is cooked.
Make holes all over the warm cake with a fine skewer and spoon the extra 4tbsp brandy or apple juice over the holes until it has all soaked in. While cake is warm wrap in foil to retain moisture. The cake will keep in a cupboard for up to three months or you can freeze it for six months.