Mini Christmas cakes

[littletike]

I'm thinking of doing a couple of hampers for relatives this year with mini Christmas cakes... has anyone made them and what's the best way to make them?

I've made delias Christmas cake - do I just make this and the divide it into something smaller or use a different recipe?

[LaChatte]

On the poncetastic thread someone mentioned making mini cakes in empty cans (soup or beans for example), maybe ask on there?

[MammaGnomes]

I'm making small ones this year, I'm going to use a Normal recipe but put it into a square baking tin and then cut it into 4 when it's time to ice. I'm going to decorate them as Xmas presents
That's the plan anyway

[AnnieAutumnMouse]

I did this a few years ago. Very well received, especially by older people on their own. I bought 3 of the Tesco very small round cake tins, ( and have used them a lot, eg batch baking individual gluten free cakes, and freezing them)
I tarted them up with cellophane and ribbon.

[littletike]

Ah lovely thank you.

If I use small tins how do I adjust the cooking time?

I'm halfway through the poncetastic thread but keep getting interrupted!

[Shutitmuppet]

There is a really good website called cake-o-meter where you put in your original recipe and size tin and then select your new tin size and it works out all your new quantities.

[Makemineacabsauv]

Ds did this last year but just cooked them in muffin cases in a muffin try and everyone loved them. She put them in wee cellophane bags. I think the to. If brandy she constantly 'watered' them with helped!!!

[BaggyCheeks]

When I was at school we made mini Christmas cakes in sponge pudding tins - as in, the tins that Heinz sponge puddings came in, cleaned out. We made a regular batch of christmas cake mix and divided it amongst the tins.

www.waitrose.com/shop/ProductView-10317-10001-77967-Heinz+treacle+sponge+pudding

[BaggyCheeks]

Having looked into this more, planning on making mini ones myself, I've decided that the individual cans of sweetcorn from Aldi are actually a pretty good size. Wider than a regular can, not too deep so easier to work with and not as big as a treacle pudding tin. And 35p.

[Maryann1975]

I've made some miniture Christmas cakes today. I used tuna tins to bake them in. Used the tuna, dishwashered them and they were good to go. I've done it before and had success. I use delias recipe split between as many tins as I have (I've made lots of different sizes today so can't tell you how many the mixture would make). I will wrap them in cellophane and they look really pretty.

[BaggyCheeks]

How long did you cook them for Maryann?

[Maryann1975]

Sorry, only just noticed the question, I don't know how long I cooked them for, 140C and I left them I think for about 40 mins and then checked them every few mins until they were done.