Christmas Cake, no nuts, no alcohol

SIRENS

Hi
I wanted to make a Christmas cake this year, have not made one since the kids came along. Dd is allergic to nuts and we do not drink, so just wondering if I don't add alcohol and will not be 'feeding' it how far in advance before Christmas can I make it? Also what can I decorate it with as mazipan is out because of dd's allergy?

Thanks so much x

meanmarie

I wouldn't make it until beginning of December as it won't keep as well with no alcohol. For decoration you could use candied fruit, brushed over with some warm apricot jam to glaze...I have even just poured a thick water icing (icing sugar with just enough water to make a dropping consistency)over Christmas cake as nobody here is keen on almond icing or marzipan.

HTH

Marie

Butterfly_Brain

You could use orange juice instead of alcohol and use a basic Christmas cake recipe and leave the nuts out just add extra cherries or fruit

mildred1978

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2988/hot-toddy-fruitcake

This one, nearer the time, with orange juice instead of the whisky. Delish.

Dunroamin

If you Google it, there are lots of recipes for nut free marzipan around.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Instead of juice (which alters the sweetness), you could brew strong tea and use that instead.

You don't need marzipan on the cake anyhow. Add icing if you must (horrible stuff), just bung it on like the marzipan.

mildred1978

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Instead of juice (which alters the sweetness), you could brew strong tea and use that instead.

You don't need marzipan on the cake anyhow. Add icing if you must (horrible stuff), just bung it on like the marzipan.

The recipe I posted uses 200 ml of tea and3tbsp orange juice.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

mildred1978 wrote: »

The recipe I posted uses 200 ml of tea and3tbsp orange juice.

I'd leave out the orange juice. But then again, I usually boil up the fruit so it's soft and tender, rather than dry like some cakes I've been subjected to in the past, and add grated apple.


Mine's not a recipe from anywhere in particular though, mine's just one that seems to work.

mildred1978

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

I'd leave out the orange juice. But then again, I usually boil up the fruit so it's soft and tender, rather than dry like some cakes I've been subjected to in the past, and add grated apple.


Mine's not a recipe from anywhere in particular though, mine's just one that seems to work.

I heartily recommend the one ice posted. It's amazingly moist even without any feeding. Really delicious. I get requests for it all the time.

Even did one layer of it for my som's birthday cake. Went down a storm.

Eta: 700g of fruit is too much though. I use a 500g bag of fruit and peel and add a few extra cherries.

daisiegg

I'm allergic to nuts and I just ice my Christmas cake with royal icing. I brush the cake with melted apricot jam first. It works fine.

I always buy a bottle of cherry brandy to feed my cake with and it doesn't taste at all alcoholic when you eat it. Or as others have said, feed with tea. I bet you could get some nice spicy herbal tea in a Christmassy flavour that might work well.

SIRENS

Thanks so much for all your replies, I love the look of the goodfood one thank-you mildred, think I will use less fruit bu extra cherries like you suggested as the kids love cherries:T

Will make at the beginning of December but will get all the ingrediants ready, didn't realise you could feed with tea!

Thank-you all so much, I knew you would all know what to do;)