christmas cake going mouldy

JuneBow

I normally make my Christmas cake about September, and all is well.
But last year when I went to ice about a week before Christmas it was mouldy.
Normally I feed the cake with alcohol and keep an apple inside the tin, but I didn't last year and I am wondering if this could have been the reason for the mould.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
(should I have put this on the Christmas thread?)

theoretica

I think it will be the alcohol. Alcohol is a disinfectant so lots of it (and sugar) will stop mould growing.

JuneBow

I wasn't sure whether it was because I had not opened it since I made it. It was rank! There was so much mould.
Normally I am into it every week or so.
I am a bit reluctant to try it again because I have some really nice dried fruit which I bought abroad and I didn't want to waste it.

arbrighton

More alcohol!

Softstuff

I've never kept an apple in my tin, but once my cake is made it gets 2 tablespoons of whisky or brandy, wrapped in greaseproof and foil, then popped in a tin. Each week I take it out and give it a couple more tablespoons. By December it's combustible, delicious and never mouldy

VfM4meplse

I too am a little confused by the apple

Apart from a dearth of alcohol and sugar, I wonder if your cake had enough fat in it?

MandM90

JuneBow wrote: »

I normally make my Christmas cake about September, and all is well.
But last year when I went to ice about a week before Christmas it was mouldy.
Normally I feed the cake with alcohol and keep an apple inside the tin, but I didn't last year and I am wondering if this could have been the reason for the mould.
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
(should I have put this on the Christmas thread?)

I think you answered your own question...it's the alcohol. Feed it as usual, and it'll be fine. No normal cake will survive for months.

JuneBow

Lack of alcohol does seem to be the consensus. I didn't have anything to put in it last year. I don't really drink much, so I only keep stuff like wine gin or whiskey in the house for guests.

VfM4meplse wrote: »

I too am a little confused by the apple

Apart from a dearth of alcohol and sugar, I wonder if your cake had enough fat in it?

Apparently the apple keeps it moist. Its a very old fashioned thing. But hey, I am an old fashioned girl. People say its like travelling back to the 50s in my house, but without the d!cor!