Preheat oven to 180oC / 350oF /
Gas 4. Grease two 450g loaf tins.
Place the butter and sugar in a large
bowl and sift in the flour. Rub in the ingredients together with your
fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Add the coconut, mixed spice, vanilla
essence, rum, eggs and milk and mix together well with your hands. If
the mixture is too dry, moisten with milk. Knead on a floured board
until firm and pliable.
Have the mixture and place in the
prepared loaf tins. Glaze with sugared water and bake for 1 hour until
the loaves are cooked. Test with a skewer, the loaves are ready when the
skewer comes out clean.