Homemade Christmas Cake

Bella_b

We have a christmas cake competition in our house usually each year.. my sister, brother and mum all make cakes.. different recipes and all baked in different ovens and baked differently. On boxing day we get a neighbour over who is a "judge" and doesn't know who's cake belongs to whom. We all vote and decide which one we like the best and give marks according to taste, texture and decoration! The judge has the final vote if it is a tie. Just a bit of fun but the Christmas cake off has turned into something of a tradition! Delia's is a good recipe but it is nice to vary the cake recipes I think.

Flibsey

I make my own. I used to buy it, but allergies and intollerances mean I've had to rethink things... lactose intollerance and allergy to the colouring used most commonly in glace cherries, plus allergy to apricots and apricot kernels...

I use kirsty allsopp's recipe from last year's kirsty pretends t make stuff for a random festival show.

I decorate my mum's as part of her xmas pressie too, but hers is normally a bought one!

kittywight

can i just ask how big delias cake is?? it sounds quite big, do you think it would be ok if i just halfed the ingredients an perhaps use a loaf tin to bake it??? would half the ingredients be enough to fill a lof tin? sorry i dont know the actual size, its just your standard loaf tin (poundland ) haha

this one : http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/the-classic-christmas-cake.html

pollyskettle

kittywight wrote: »

can i just ask how big delias cake is?? it sounds quite big, do you think it would be ok if i just halfed the ingredients an perhaps use a loaf tin to bake it??? would half the ingredients be enough to fill a lof tin? sorry i dont know the actual size, its just your standard loaf tin (poundland ) haha

this one : http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/cuisine/european/english/the-classic-christmas-cake.html

Under the ingredients list it says that it is for a 8" round or 7" square tin ***

I've so far done both 8" square and 8" round cakes. Thinking of making a larger square one as I fancy decorating a BIG cake!!

Sorry, I got totally distracted whilst typing this and realised that I hadn't actually typed what I meant to! I meant to add to the first bit (***) that here is a conversion chart which shows quantities for a smaller cake too (6" round or 5" square)! I don't know how that would fit in a loaf tin, but it should and maybe worth a go

Sorry about that - must take more water with it in future xxx

pinkflop

I have a recipe I found in Good Housekeeping a few years ago... christmas cake with a hint of chocolate! It contains Green & Blacks 85% chocolate and it gives it a lovely rich flavour - my family said it was the best cake they have ever had!

My family hate icing so I cover it in melted white chocolate for a 'snow' scene!

Here's the recipe... (not my blog by the way!). I'll be making mine in Oct half term

http://clairescakebake.blogspot.com/2007/11/my-first-christmas-cake.html

pearsoneys

ELJAYCOCK wrote: »

Just as a note Sainsburys are doing the same thing, in store now. I think they do one back for the cake and one for decorating.

(Hope the quotes attached okay, first time I've done it!):)

these are 1/3rd off atm . i do make mine from scratch but are probably good for some to still get the homemade taste :-)

ilovepugs

Hi, ive been reading lots of posts about adding brandy to the xmas cake,I would like to know, whether there is an alternative to alcohol, as non of my family drink.
Many Thanks.xx

pollyskettle

I've never tried, but I have heard people recommend fruit juice. Neither OH or I drink either, but I glug away at the christmas cakes each year and will randomly make a very alcoholic sherry trifle too (which I can eat as I make it egg free!)!

linda-ann

I got the edible cake ribbons yesterday

One for me and one for a friend.

RenStar

linda-ann wrote: »

I made my cake last weekend and going to get an edible icing ribbon from Lakeland
something different for a change

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/15472/Edible-Icing-Ribbon

Saw these in Asda too - at £2.87 they are cheaper than Lakeland or if you don't have a Lakeland near you. http://groceries.asda.com/asda-estore/search/searchcontainer.jsp?trailSize=1&searchString=Edible+ribbon&domainName=Products&headerVersion=v1&_requestid=36578

I tried the Delia recipe last year exactly as stated and I ended up with a brick! Then it clicked that there was no raising agent included in the list so I swapped half the quantity of plain flour for self raising and it was perfect! Prior to that, i used to use my grandmother's recipe, which i am not allowed to disclose...apparently...;) I cheat and I pass mine off as 'Caribbean' as I soak my fruit in half rum and half sweet sherry mixure

I have had the fruit soaking since June this year and will make the cakes beginning of December. I second the gravy browning to give a lovely rich colour. Decoration wise, I marzipan and ice the cake, add a red ribbon to the base and cut out holly shaped leaves using cutters and make red berries. I use icing colours instead of food colour though. I love making Christmas cake almost as much as I love eating them!