Mary Berry's Christmas Cake

mollsnan

DD has just phoned to say she has discovered 3 of these cake kits lurking in the back of her cupboard. Dated end Feb 2012 can she use them. I bit my tongue and kept from saying what I really wanted to say!! But she reckons she could still use them ( think I have taught her thrifty too well!!!) Don't fancy trip to A&E after she feeds her victims something that is probably off! Comments appreciated please.

moments_of_sanity

I too have 3 of these in the garage waiting to be used, I looked at the ingredients and can't believe any of it will go off and cause any illness - the fruit is soaked in alcohol and I figured I would always add fresh flour.

I also have a pack of the Mary Berry spiced cakes, going to cook them tomorrow and pass them to willing victims!

caroc

I had a couple of these that went past the date and in the end I just couldn't be bothered to make the cake + buy fresh ingredients, so I ate the nuts, put the fruit on the bird table, used the sugar in my tea and threw the rest away, wasteful but stress free !

Clowance

check the flour for weevils, if none its ok. If the fruit is presoaked in alcohol its ok, else it will merely be dry (soak it yourself), wouldn't use any dairy products though should there be any.

lucyhope

You've just reminded me I've got 3 lurking, better get them cooked!

horsechestnut

The only thing you need to check is the flour; if there are no weavils then it's O.K. to use, it is Plain Flour so there is no problem of any Baking Powder going off. If it has weavils then just replace it with your own Plain Flour.
I made one 2 weeks ago for a visiting friend ; just the cake, didn't ice it, it was delicious and received many compliments!!!
I have 2 away for next Christmas, but will use fresh flour as it will be over a year old (a reasonable guide is flour shouldn't be over a year old from the time of milling the grain) but I have used flour older than a year with no ill effects.

mollsnan

Thanks to everyone for taking time to reply. So reassured with positive responses I am going to get her to give me one for myself!

zenseeker

Depends, is it Best Before or Use By? If it's Best Before then you're safe to make it, it just may not quite be up to the quality of an in date mix.

HelenKA_2

I made one last week. We've eaten it and it's all fine, even the marzipan was still good.

WishI'dReadSooner

Just started eating one I made in February - fed it with brandy when I remembered. It's GOOD!
I've got 3 waiting to be made - Anyone know how long you can keep them for if fed every month or so with brandy?
Wondering if I made this week if they'd keep till Christmas & hopefully beyond then?
I remember mum making them many months ahead, feeding them for ages (how long?) and then marzipan and icing put on in December.

kittycat204

they will be fine.