A note on the flour: It's important to use self-rising flour as it contains baking powder and salt, which helps the cake rise. If you only have all-purpose flour, you can make your own by mixing 1 cup of all-purpose flour with 1½ teaspoons of baking powder and a pinch of salt .
How to Make It
This is a recipe where the process is as relaxed as the ingredient list.
1. Preheat and Prep
Preheat your oven to 350°F . Use half of the butter to generously grease an 8x8-inch baking dish . Don't be shy with it—a good greasing makes serving easier.
2. Mix the Magic
In a large bowl, simply combine the self-rising flour, sugar, and the entire can of undrained fruit cocktail. Stir with a wooden spoon until just combined . The batter will be thick and a little lumpy with fruit peeking through.
3. Pour and Dot with Butter
Pour the batter into your prepared dish. Take the remaining butter and slice it into small pats. Scatter these pats evenly over the top of the batter. Do not stir them in; they will melt and create a gorgeous, crisp, buttery crust as the cake bakes .
4. Bake to Golden Perfection
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the top is a beautiful golden brown and feels set . The edges should be a little crisp, and you might see some bubbling around the fruit.
5. Cool and Serve
Let the cake stand for about 10 minutes before serving . The fruit will be very hot. Then, scoop it into bowls and serve it warm, preferably with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream .
A Little More Inspiration
This recipe is wonderfully forgiving and easy to adapt. You can swap the fruit cocktail for other canned fruits like sliced peaches in juice . Adding a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg to the batter adds a wonderful warmth , and folding in some chopped pecans or walnuts before baking gives it a lovely crunch
