Cooks - help me please! Spices for Xmas cake?

BabyBoots

Can you tell me what spices should go in a Christmas cake?

I've bought a Delia box kit for a Christmas cake, but the spices are missing - the box just says mixed spices. What spices do I need to put in? I probably have them in the cupboard...

A quick answer might mean I'm not up all night waiting for this to bake!

PixieDust

stick in mixed spice

meritaten

what does the recipe say? but there is a spice called 'mixed spice', I know it went into my nans xmas cake. she may have added a bit more cinnamon and nutmeg, but as it mostly tasted of sherry or brandy I cannot be sure!

PixieDust

Actually, I'm sure I bought Allspice for ours........

BabyBoots

Thanks both - I've chucked in ginger, cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg and I'm hoping for the best. I don't have any 'mixed spice.'

Red_Cat

You can buy Mixed spice from the cake/baking aisle in the supermarket. That contains cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, dried ginger etc. Use this.

Don't use Allspice as that is a type of pepper.

Misleadingly, Mixed Spice can contain Allspice.

meritaten

Spice names can be a minefield! Mixed spice is generally a 'sweet' spice - tho its sometimes used in savoury dishes. Allspice is generally a savoury spice - but it too is sometimes used (sparingly) in sweet dishes!

Mixed spice is a common ingredient in cakes, but to my mind you cannot go wrong with Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and ground cloves!