Christmas Cake recipes

Sharon_1970_2

Does anyone have any nice christmas cake recipes they can share? I am planning on making my own this year. I would like a square one and a good size as there are six of us. I used to have one with nuts in too but I can't find that. I prefer the dark fruit ones that you feed over a month. Thanks in advance

bunty109

Sharon_1970 wrote: »

Does anyone have any nice christmas cake recipes they can share? I am planning on making my own this year. I would like a square one and a good size as there are six of us. I used to have one with nuts in too but I can't find that. I prefer the dark fruit ones that you feed over a month. Thanks in advance

I made this one last year: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4825/gingery-christmas-cake

It isn't very dark, has a few ground almonds in it (I guess you could leave them out if you wanted and just put in more flour), and tasted delicious. I'm already thinking about getting ingredients to give it another go this year!

hannahsmummy1

i got my recipe from www.deliaonline.co.uk and because i had never made one before i made it last week & had to try it (!) and it was lovely! So now i have to make another few (some for presents!)

hels102

I have used Delia's Tradditional Christmas Cake recipe for the last 3yrs and it's been lovely everytime, I always get comments on and a few people want me to make one for them this year! I tend to make it the beginning of November and feed it brandy till mid December before Icing!

ellieo

can anyone help me with a couple of questions about christmas cakes please
1, when is the best time to make them
2, ok i know you have to feed them but can you use anything other than alcohol
3, whats the best way to keep them until you want to marzipan/ice them
thanks for any help you can give !!

finc

I use this recipe of Delia's every year and it always goes down well. I use brandy instead of whisky though and don't bother with the angostoura bitters and use dark brown sugar instead of molasses sugar. It's a very dark, rich and alcoholic fruit cake yum.

I tend to make mine mid October and feed as and when I remember.

Glpark01

Im going to have a go with the delia one this year its very popular.

becs

Yep definately Delia for me, I've done hers for the past 3 years aswell. Really nice recipe.
As for when to make it, I usually do mine about mid october. To store it I just double wrap in greaseproof paper then foil.
Definately make your own marzipan aswell though- so easy and much nicer than shop bought!

Becs

Gangstabird

I have this one and it's never failed yet

6oz sultanas
6oz raisins
4oz currants
4oz glacecherries
3oz mixed peel
1/4 pint sherry
6oz butter
6oz soft brown sugar
4 eggs
4oz SR flour
4oz plain flour
pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
1oz ground almonds

Mix together all fruit. pour sherry over and leave to soak for 1 week, covered. Stir frequently until required.

Grease & line a 7 - 8 inch cake tin

Method

Cream butter & sugar until soft & fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Fold in flour, salt & ground almonds. Drain off any liquid from the fruit and mix fruit into mixture stirring until well blended. Put into prepared tin, smooth top and bake just below middle of oven for 1 hour on gas mark 3. Then cover with foil and reduce oven to gas mark 2 and cook for a further 1.5 hours until firm to touch. Leave to stand in tin until nearly cold. remove from tin, !!!!! well and pour over liquid from dried fruit. Wrap in foil or greaseproof paper and leave to mature until a few days before christmas, then marzipan & ice.

If you are doing a 9 inch square I would add an extra egg and an extra 2oz of flours, sugars, fruit

Gangstabird

Actually I might add 2 eggs and so on. There is a lovely thread on this on another forum

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2652&threadid=227081#4585192