Dried fruit??

saladoor_2

I'm about to start making christmas cake and puddings this week, and was wondering if anybody had some good ideas about where i could buy dried fruit in bulk (raisins, currents, cranberries, cherries etc.) I was hoping to find a weigh and save, but it seems like those have closed down!

Alye16

Saw some in Aldi yesterday can't remember prices but may be worth checking out

Edwardia

I got my mother to make mine for me last month and bought organic vine fruits from Holland and Barrett in their sale. If they have one on at the moment that might help.

Redleela

I think ASDA and Morrisons were the cheapest for dried fruit out of the supermarkets last year.

Look out for the cake kits reduced after Christmas for next year - I bought 2 of the Mary Berry kits in Tesco for £2.50 each. I'm sure I couldn't buy the fruit for that.
NB the best before was Feb 2012 but I made the cakes in August and the fruit was fine (being soaked in brandy probably helped with that). If you are concerned about the best before you could make the cake early - should keep if well wrapped.

VfM4meplse

Dried fruit is so expensive these days, juts a couple of years ago it was as cheap as chips and I'd be able to buy loads w.o batting an eyelid. Now I need to stock up my baking cupboard, and it looks like it's going to cost a fortune!

Redleela wrote: »

Look out for the cake kits reduced after Christmas for next year - I bought 2 of the Mary Berry kits in Tesco for £2.50 each. I'm sure I couldn't buy the fruit for that.
NB the best before was Feb 2012 but I made the cakes in August and the fruit was fine (being soaked in brandy probably helped with that).

I dragged the 2 bags I bought out of the back of the cupboard last week (8 months after the BBE date ) and will be making them tomorrow afternoon.

pollsdolls

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Dried fruit is so expensive these days, juts a couple of years ago it was as cheap as chips and I'd be able to buy loads w.o batting an eyelid. Now I need to stock up my baking cupboard, and it looks like it's going to cost a fortune!

I dragged the 2 bags I bought out of the back of the cupboard last week (8 months after the BBE date ) and will be making them tomorrow afternoon.

Please let us know how you got on, as I have some of these left as well. Thanks

whiteguineapig

home bargains is very cheap for dried fruit

shammyjack

Sainsbury's Basics mixed fruit is 64p per 500gm .

Chris25

dried fruit is 342 at the moment in T's as part of the 342 baking campaign.

Chris25

Redleela wrote: »

.

Look out for the cake kits reduced after Christmas for next year - I bought 2 of the Mary Berry kits in Tesco for £2.50 each. I'm sure I couldn't buy the fruit for that.
N.

saw the Christmas Cake 2012 kits today in T's - £10. I wonder for how long they'll be at that price?

VfM4meplse

pollsdolls wrote: »

Please let us know how you got on, as I have some of these left as well. Thanks

Well I haven't tried the cake yet - am waiting until Christmas and will be feeding with whisky every couple of weeks btwn now and then.

I followed the instructions to the T and tbf am not that impressed - the cakes (I had 2 bags) took ages to bake at gas mark 1...4.5hrs to be precise! I didn't even bother to check whether they were done at that point as I needed to go out, just left them in the oven and checked when I got back. They came out of the tins easily but were very greasy at the bottom - I had greased with a tiny smear of sunflower oil rather than plenty of butter as was recommended. I prefer a tall cake, but resisted piling the mixture into one big cake pan and followed the rules, so ended up with 2 cakes that are 20cm in diameter and just 5cm high. I shan't be icing them, but can see myself nibbling the marzipan every evening as a little treat.

Would I buy the mix again - yes, because if I find it at £2 again the cost of the bag will be less than the individual ingredients (when you factor in the sky-rocketing price of dried fruit and almonds), which come in handily labelled sealed bags so are ideal for stocking up my baking shelf. But I would never make the cake again, I think it's completely over-rated and will stick to my own recipe next year, which involves lots of prunes, dried apricots, alcohol, and not much fat.