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

scotsaver

I always make my Xmas cake, puds and Mincemeat the first week that the kids go back to School in September so finished mine last week. The Cake I will feed with booze each week until Xmas, this always works for us and never had anything go off - as everyone says it's all down to finding a time that suits your family/tradition.;)

Kazipoo

Sooooooo giddy now.... just been out and bought the ingredients, I have never made a Christmas cake, although have had many compliments about my light fruit cake, so fingers crossed. I shall also be using the delia mincemeat recipe...... can't wait!!

toontron

Purely out of interest, do people make their cake because it tastes better or is it more economic to make your own?

Kazipoo

I am doing it to gift to people. We have started to give food baskets to family members, and they look forward to receiving them every year. This year they will have a selection of homemade jams and lemon curd, mini Christmas cake, mince pies, mini Christmas pudding (possibly), homemade sweeties, homemade biscuits, homemade wine and this year trying homemade Baileys. I also learned how to crochet and make jewellery this year, so its quite possible I could add something along these lines too.

Cost wise, it has cost around £6 for my ingredients, this will cover a few larger cakes and mince for the pies, so it works out cheaper anyway.

Glpark01

Im making ours this weekend, im due to have a baby towards the end of november so i want it to be baked and out of the way so i can just feed it until xmas.

nuttybabe

I am planning on making mine this week but I left my air tight container at my sisters!!!

Is there anything else I can use? I think I read I could wrap it in grease proof paper and then foil? Would that be ok?

Thanks

greenbee

niklepic wrote: »

Is there a recipe anywhere for a boozeless cake? I'm not that keen on traditional christmas cake because of the sherry/brandy in it.:beer:

Use tea or orange juice to soak the fruit instead

Pink.

niklepic wrote: »

Is there a recipe anywhere for a boozeless cake? I'm not that keen on traditional christmas cake because of the sherry/brandy in it.:beer:

Hi niklepic,

This thread may help:

alcohol free xmas cake?

Pink

Dizzy_Ditzy

i will be making mine this weekend. I made a couple last year, 1 in october and 1 in november and they were both fine. I dont put booze in them so dont have any need for feeding them. I wrap then in greaseproof and then foil and keep them in a roses/quality street/celebrations tin until its time for decorating then it just goes in the big cake box

On another note, i made 4 little christmas puds last year that didnt get eaten cos we were all f'lup, they have remained sealed and airtight, they should be ok shouldnt they?

SUESMITH_2

totally fine to wrap in greaseproof and foil, I've had to do this when they were too big to fit in any of my tins.

i make my own because i can choose what goes in them, ie. butter and good fruit and booze and its cheaper. even a cheap supermarket cake costs more than my ingredients. i would say mine was as good if not better than an m and s or bettys cake (http://www.bettys.co.uk/product/Yorkshire-Sloe-Gin-Fruit-Cake,18689,87.aspx christmas isnt on yet!)