quick question ...when is the right time to bake a Christmas cake? (merged)

Pink.

Hi bluedog,

I normally make mine in September when the kids go back to school but I know that some people make them earlier and as long as it's stored well it shouldn't be a problem to make it now.

This earlier thread may help:

quick question ...when is the right time to bake a Christmas cake?

Pink

tramps

hi bluedog
i always make mine at the start of the school holidays bake cool brush top, sides and bottom with alcohol (or orange juice) wrap in grease proof then tin foil repeat this every month till christmas i use a 1" paint brush - not been used for diy! then finish of the alcohol and suck the brush i make that 6 free drinks

knithappens

i made mine the end of july last year and it was beautiful by xmas, never too early to bake a Christmas cake

bluedog

Thanks all as I wasn't too sure with the fruit going out of date so soon, but think I will get mine done now. (it will be a "don't eat and drive" version .)

Thanks for the link Pink-winged as I've found a couple of tips on there which are useful to know too.

keza

Hi all!

Just wondering if ay of you have started you xmas cakes yet?

Im thinking of baking our next weekend and will have to give it to my mum to feed while im away in November. Just wondering if im a little early?

How do i keep it from going off so to speak?

Its our first xmas married this year and OH is cooking the xmas dins at his parents (we are staying with them) and i wanted to take round xmas cake, christmas pud and mince pies.

Shall i make a start next week or leave it a while? whats peoples opinions on when to do the christmas puddings?

xx

2009ismyyear

keza wrote: »

Hi all!

Just wondering if ay of you have started you xmas cakes yet?

Im thinking of baking our next weekend and will have to give it to my mum to feed while im away in November. Just wondering if im a little early?

How do i keep it from going off so to speak?

Its our first xmas married this year and OH is cooking the xmas dins at his parents (we are staying with them) and i wanted to take round xmas cake, christmas pud and mince pies.

Shall i make a start next week or leave it a while? whats peoples opinions on when to do the christmas puddings?

xx

I'm sure it will be perfectly fine!

As for Christmas puddings- I made mine when I was snowed in (in January) - in fact I'd forgotten so we nearly had two! :rotfl:

Seakay

Stir up Sunday (Nov 28th this year I think) is the traditional day to start puddings, but there is no such guide line for cakes so I think that you should go ahead. Feeding for such a long time should make for a fabulously rich and boozy cake! Even Stir Up Sunday is only a guideline as it it one of those varying days because it is dependent on when Advent falls.

keza

thanks seakay!

I will start the cake then (as the in-laws like a bit of booze at xmas!) and i will do the xmas puds when i return from my honeymoon at the beginning of december

Gettingtherequickly

I made mine on Saturday! First time I have made one and my mum probably thinks that I have lost the plot when I said I made a 10in square one. Said that if it makes me ill, I may as well make alot of people ill! Well, hopefully it will be ok, currently suitably wrapped and on the top shelf of a cupboard.

Good luck!

nicki_2

Family tradition dictates that I'll be making mine around October Half-term (last week of October this year). I'll also start thinking about Xmas pudding (although I might just buy a sponge one instead) and making mince pies I've already started buying the ingredients though so as to spread the cost.

On another note...I've already picked up the stuffing, Turkey roast (there's only me and DD), cranberry sauce, gravy and pickled onions for Xmas dinner