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

Rainy-Days

valk_scot wrote: »

Only Hubby and I like Christmas cake so I don't bother making one. I usually buy a couple in January from M&S when they all get reduced to clear though!

The last three years we have bought our cake from Lidl and everybody has commented on how nice and moist it is, it was also awarded top prize in a taste survey as well and it is beautifully iced. I am not a big fan of fruit cakes to be honest and if it wasn't for DH it wouldn't really be eaten. I used to make the Christmas puddings strictly to Delia Smith's recipe but I have bought the Tesco finest when on offer for the last three or so years! It was when I was having ill health I did this and they were actually really nice!

Lily_Mars

I made mine a couple of weeks ago and it's due a drop of sherry this weekend - smells good! No idea on how it tastes as I hate fruit cake...:o

Anyway, I've decided that I'm going to make a Tunis cake - just for me, to even things out

Pink.

Hi daisiegg,

Welcome to the board

As your thread has dropped down the board I've added it to the existing thread on when Old Stylers make their Christmas cakes to keep the replies together.

Pink

TryingToBeOldStyle

First time of making one this year! Does anyone have a good tried and tested recipe please?

katyboo123

My Nanna used to make amazing Christmas cakes and I love the stuff with some thinly sliced Stilton or Wensleydale with Apricot or Cranberries to accompany it! Perfect for snuggling up and watching Christmas movies in the run up to the big day! Totally Christmas and this year I was so excited until my OH found out she wasn't getting paid for some time she'd had off sick (caused by her employer but that's a whole other thread/board/story!).

So, we 'cancelled' Christmas saying we would only buy for children (5 nieces and nephews). I was really crushed as I'd been so thrifty so far, buying my paper and cards in January sales and downloading my Christmas planner from http://christmas.organizedhome.com/.

It was kind of upsetting me quite a bit and I was walking around with a chip on my shoulder. But then I decided. I was doing Christmas on a shoestring before, and now I am doing Christmas on an embroidery thread, but I am STILL doing Christmas.

I have a whole load of baking stuff in the pantry, so I decided to start with my Christmas Cake. I have now collected all the ingredients (Asda Smart Price Butter, Morrison's Value Sultanas and Raisins (99p each for 1lb bags), Large Free Range Eggs reduced from £1.98 to £1 in Asda, already had flour and sugar in, Glace Cherries and Flaked Almonds reduced in Asda too!) and plan to make my cake at the weekend, though not sure what to do about some cheap Brandy for 'feeding' or 'watering' my cake in the run up to Christmas.

Feeling really positive now and going to hunt around to see what else I can make for really cheap. Definitely making some Christmas Eve hampers I know that for sure.

So, any ideas on my brandy for my cake X

katyboo123

I finally made my cake. And it's a cheap and cheerful BEAUTY! http://nanna-kate.blogspot.com/2011/10/piece-of-family-tradition-cake.html And it only cost £11 including a quarter bottle of Brandy! X

mo1_2

just wondering when is the best time to make c.cake,i usually do mine end of october,wondered if anyone thought this too late?

evie451

I usually do mine first week of November but bloomin Ald@ had the 2 page spread on 'make your christmas cake' in their leaflet last week! along with a load of other baking decoration stuff.........oh then my branch promptly ran out of self raising and Plain flour :rotfl:

floss2

I do mine in early October, I bake them for my brothers, FiL and us.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Fruit in soak. October 1

Cake, recipe available as well, November 1

Seep with whisky till 15 November. Then ice. Ours normally comes out a 12lbs.