mini xmas cakes

laurawaite

hi everyone

i saw a really good idea on here a while ago about making mini xmas cakes using half size baked beans tins as baking tins, i thought this was brilliant and perfect for my hampers!

just wondering if anyone has got any recipes/tips/advice as this is my first attempt at making a xmas cake (particularly how to marzipan/ice it nicely!)

also if anyone spots any bargain small tins can you let me know, the cheapest i have found so far is marrowfat peas in asda for 16p a tin (i assume you can use peas tins as well as beans?!!)

i am planning on keeping them in an airtight container until a couple of days before xmas then wrapping them in cellophane bags that i have bought from ebay - will this be ok? i don't want them to go dry.

many thanks :j

C_J

When I've done mini Christmas cakes before, I've just baked one large oblong one and then cut it into approx 2" squares. Then I've marzipanned and iced the little cakes, and decorated them to look like miniature Christmas parcels.

I do like the idea of baking little round ones though!

jollyanna

When making little cakes you need to be very careful with timing so they don't burn Best to have a practise run first.

madoldbat

Hi Laura
I use sponge pudding tins,you know the ones treacle,chocolate or spotted !!!!!!.OH and DS are forced to eat 6 between them:rolleyes: bit more expensive but if you dont recyle the tins (my kids do every year,only so they can eat some more) they will reuse.
I line mine as I would larger tins use same resipe only fill 75% of tin.
To decorate marzipan then ice top only by using tin as cutter. Decorate with silver balls made into snowflake pattern.
Use ribbon around sides over lap a little and stick with pritt stick.
If your baking now wrap in greaseproof paper or baking parchment and wrap again in foil and the pop in your poly box this should keep them moist until you need to decorate.

laurawaite

wow what quick replies thank you!

i will def have a practice run first and i like the idea of making little square parcel cakes, i might do a mixture of square and round, and i will get some of those treacle pudding tins too to make a couple of slightly larger ones for mine and OH's parents - he won't complain about having to eat treacle pudding but he will probably moan about eating endless tins of peas!!

thanks for the tips!:T

code-a-holic

Just to give a little update on these - I made these at the end of October and today i decorated a few as i had forgotten to make a cake for playschool cake stall tomorrow! Had a few spare cakes so good opportunity for a practise. Here's a pic -

LouBlue

They look lovely!!

Mrs_Money

There is a recipe for mini christmas cakes here
It uses baked bean cans - not tried it though!

sillyvixen

i have just recieved a mini christmas cake from a friend instead of a christmas card..it was a lovely gesture!! i am gobsmaked!!