very late christmas cake recipe please

jorichste

I know christmas cakes have to be made, like 100 years in advance, but do any of you clever folks have a recipe for something a bit last minute? I looked in the shops yesterday and the cheapest cake was 16 euros and it was tiny, the proper size ones were around 40 euros.ouch!! definitley won't be buying one, so any help would be appreciated.Thanks

jfdi

I make a 'White American' Christmas cake - you only do it about 2 days in advance! (And any earlier & I'd end up doing a 2nd one coz it's SOOO yummy!)

It's got glace fruits & loads of nuts. Would that be any good?

A
xx

jorichste

Sounds fab, to be honest aything that vaguely resembles christmas cake would do. I didn't realise they would be sooooooo expensive to buy.

jfdi

8oz margarine
8ox caster sugar
5 eggs
10oz SR flour
1 tspn baking powder
pinch salt
8oz glace cherries
8oz crystalised pineapple
grated rind 1 lemon
Vanilla or almond escence
4oz walnuts
4oz almonds

1. Cream fat & sugar
2. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each
3. Cut cherries in half, chop pineapple if needed, chop nuts if needed. Mix them all up with the lemon rind. Sprinkle over a good quantity of the flour & coat well, trying to ensure each piece is separate.
4. Fold remaining flour into the creamed fat mixture - then add the coated fruit & nuts & the essence. Mix well.
5. Turn into a well greased & lined round 8in cake tin. Bake at 325'f/Gas Mark 2 for 2 - 3 hours. Test by inserting skewer/fork. Turn out & cool.

Now - that was the official recipe! Here's what I do! Use any extra glace fruit I can find. Use the big bags of mixed nuts (no peanuts!) that Julian Graves do. Use about 2lb total of fruits & nuts (but flour & eggs as per recipe!). AND - have a good quantity left over for the decorating! Leave out the essence & lemon rind, sometimes add cinnamon. Cook it about Gas Mark 4 for a slightly shorter time - but check it regularly!
Once it's cool I decorate it by turning it upside down & putting lines of the fruit & nuts on top using apricot jam / honey etc (something clearish!) to stick it on & to glaze it. Looks lovely when done, esp with a baco-foil 'frill' and some red ribbon!
If I can find a photo that looks similar I'll add it!

Enjoy!

A
xx

PS - it's not that cheap!

jfdi

http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/images/imgstore/302_lotvguyglf_i.jpg

That gives a rough idea of how I do the decorating - I've not made mine yet or I'd take a picture!

jorichste

thanks for that, its defo cheaper than 40euro! I have everything except glace fruit, will grab some next time I'm shopping.:beer:

Penelope_Penguin

Delia's Glace Fruit cake It's light so doesn't need the long maturing.

Penny. x

beverleyhills

Also this one. She claims that you can make it Christmas morning for tea.

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/christmas-sherry-mincemeat-cake,903,RC.html

ka7e

I make Nigella's Chocolate Christmas cake - in fact I make one now to check the oven timings, and make another a few days before Christmas day. A slice heated in the microwave doubles up as Christmas pud, too!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/chocolatefruitcake_84675.shtml