anyone got a cheap as chips Christmas cake recipe please?

liz.._4

Looking through the cookbooks I thought I'd bake a cake this time but seems to need loads of ingrediants, anyone got an easy recipe? Thanks in anticipation

Bambam

Place the following ingredients into a saucepan, bring to boil and simmer for 1 minute:

125g margarine/butter
175g sugar - dar brown, light or white
400g dried mixed fruit
225ml water
1 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 heaped teaspoon mixed spices (I use 2)

Allow the above mixture to cool (I usually add a bit of booze at this stage)

Add the following ingredients to the above when cool :

2 beaten eggs
250g self raising flour
Pinch of salt

Mix thoroughly.

Pour into an 8" round tin or a 7" square tin or 2 loaf tins

Bake in oven Gas 4 - 350F - 180C for approx 1 & quarter hours.

This is not a rich dark cake (even lighter in colour if you use white sugar) but if you can afford to, drizzle a bit of booze on it every week for the next few weeks if you wish (I store mine in an airtight container wrapped in foil)

growingafamily

would it be ok without the booze - we're teetotal in our house - but would love a Chrimbo cake this year - can't buy non bozzy ones anywhere LOL

twink

think you could substitute orange juice for the booze

Bambam

growingafamily wrote:

would it be ok without the booze - we're teetotal in our house - but would love a Chrimbo cake this year - can't buy non bozzy ones anywhere LOL

No booze is absolutely fine. I use this recipe throughout the year when I do a fruit cake and its only at Christmas I put the booze in :xmassign:

cats_whiskers

Hi
a really simple cake that can be covered in marzipan and iced for Christmas. The tea keeps it moist. Also low in fat so you don't feel too guilty about having another slice?

1lb dried mixed fruit
1 mug hot black tea
1 mug soft brown sugar
2 mugs SR flour
1 beaten egg

Can also add some chopped glace cherries, if liked. However, would recommend washing them first to get rid of the syrup, that way they do not sink to the bottom of the cake.

Soak the fruit overnight in the tea. The next day mix all the ingredients together and place in a 2lb loaf tin or round cake tin. Bake for 2 hours at 160C, 325F or Gas Mark 3. This cake can be frozen

Optional : once cooked make some holes in the top with a small skewer and drizzle with brandy, do this every few days to feed the cake or depending on how much brandy you like.

I have made this version for several years now and it is always enjoyed.

Cats.

Claire_Bear

I know that my mam buys a kit from the Food Weighhouse with all the ingredients in it which is fairly cheap, thhen she just buys some icing to go on top. I can't remember exactly how much it is, but it's a lot cheaper than buying all the ingredients seperately and only using a little bit of them. They sell them well in advance as well so your cake has time to mature.