Christmas cake - how long will it keep for

sunrise27_2

I'm using this recipe and just putting marzipan and icing on the top
I'm making small ones in baked bean tins for presents but how long will they last for as theres no alcohol involved or should I add a bit of whisky ?? do you put whisky in fruit cake ?? lol

6 oz butter
6 oz caster sugar
3 eggs
7 oz plain flour
1 tsp mixed spice
3 oz chopped glace cherries
1 oz chopped nuts
1 lb 2 oz mixed dried fruit

tiredwithtwins

I make several xmas cakes every year, so start quite early with them. my dried fruit is steeped in alcohol - I start this when the kids go back to school in September, and leave it until half term which is when I make the cakes. I then !!!!! the cakes with a skewer and pour a tablespoon of alcohol over them once a week until about 2 weeks before xmas when we marzipan/ice them. they usually don't last long as they get eaten, but if I still had any left by mid jan id cut it up and freeze it - it seems to freeze really well
just make sure you keep them in an airtight container somewhere cool (mine are stored in a unheated conservatory out of sunlight) and your cake should be fine

tiredwithtwins

haha, the !!!!! should read a word that rhymes with stick ...

jackyann

As long as they are tightly wrapped they will keep almost for ever! I am sure some alcohol helps, but even without I have kept them for months & months, and once until the following Xmas.
Traditionally, icing kept them good, I have certainly had christening cake which was the top tier of the wedding cake - the icing was chipped off and the cake re-iced.
These days, wrap in baking parchment or greaseproof paper before wrapping tightly in cling film or foil. I usually use 3 layers: the paper (important as it is inert) then clingfilm to keep it tight, then foil for strength.

VfM4meplse

I'm not sure they wil last that long if iced but there's no alcohol involved. Always best to be safe and add a load afterwards

zippychick

Ill merge this with our existing thread later

this thread may also be useful

Zip

spacey2012

That reminds me, there is one downstairs in a tin maturing.
Think I shall go see if it's ready been December an all that.

sunrise27_2

thanks all x x I'm just icing the tops of the cakes - so whisky is ok for feeding the cake ??

floss2

sunrise27 wrote: »

thanks all x x I'm just icing the tops of the cakes - so whisky is ok for feeding the cake ??

Whisky, brandy, rum - or in my house a "Christmas Cake Booze" mixture of all three

shammyjack

My late Great Aunt was the cakemaker in our family and would not serve one under 5 years old . 1 slice could get a child tipsy !