What is a traditional fruitcake covered in marzipan and icing?

A traditional British Christmas cake is a rich, dense fruitcake made with a variety of dried fruits such as raisins, currants, sultanas, and glacé cherries, often soaked in brandy or rum for added flavor and moistness. The cake is typically spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, and often contains nuts like almonds. Once baked, the cake is usually covered with a layer of marzipan, followed by a layer of royal icing or fondant. It is commonly decorated with festive motifs and sometimes topped with additional marzipan shapes or Christmas-themed decorations. The cake is made well in advance, allowing it to mature, and occasionally "fed" with more alcohol to enhance its flavor and preserve its moist texture until Christmas.

Marzipan is a sweet confection made primarily from ground almonds and sugar, often enhanced with almond extract for a stronger flavour. It has a smooth, pliable texture, making it ideal for molding into shapes and figures, which are commonly used to decorate cakes and pastries. Marzipan can be eaten on its own, used as a filling in candies and baked goods, or rolled out to cover cakes, such as the traditional British Christmas cake