making CHristmas cakes as gifts - size?

[ErnestTheBavarian]

Hi, As we're living in Germany, I thought I'd make trad. English Christmas cake as gift for teachers etc.

I guess it'd possibly add up to quite a few, so don't ideally want the expense of buying loads of tins.

How big would you normally do a cake as a gift like this do you think?

Suggestions or tips if anyone's done it before?

Or is it a shit idea?

[Slubberdegullion]

I think its a lovely idea, although it might be an expensive one as the cost of ingredients, cooking time and icing can add up.

I have this for which you can get additional dividers so you can make multiple mini cakes all at the same time.

re size I would keep it fairly small as some people hate fruit cakes, and those that do often will make their own.

Last year I made the teacher and TA Nigella's christmas Cupcakes (6 each I think) that I iced and decorated and put in a gift box. I think they were well received. The few I had left over certainly tasted very nice.

[Slubberdegullion]

ahh just re read your OP, the Germans don't do heavy fruit cakes do they? (they're more into their stollen). I'd stick to doing a small one then in case it's not the teacher's cup of tea.

[purpleturtle]

Bake in a bean tin and then cut in half. Perfect individual size cake.

[UnrequitedSkink]

Or a mini-bean tin (one of those 'one portion' tins) and then you don't have to bother cutting? Might be a lot of effort unless you make loads and give them to EVERYone. Nice idea though.

[superfrenchie1]

oh - can you bake things in tins!!? this is brilliant - i'm inspired to spend today baking tin shaped cakes!!

[purpleturtle]

Thinking about it, you might even get 3 little cakes out of a 400g tin. Think you need to wrap the tin in brown paper to stop it burning round the edges. (Oh, I don't know - it was a very long time ago!)

[PandaG]

I did them last year in the divided tin slubber.

made an 8x8" for us, and 5 4x4" ones as gifts - I cut the resultant 8x4" cakes in half to make the other 4x4's.

I always wrap paper round the cake tin to avoid the cake burning - newspaper will do

[ErnestTheBavarian]

couldn't get brilliant looking cake dividery thingy.

I've had to resort to muffin tins. total bastard fiddly thing.

Baked bean tin fantasic idea but got none

Any idea how much less time to cook small diddy ones?
ALSO, DO YOU COVER THE TOP WITH BAKING PAPER TOO?

sorry oops caps

Final Q, will it be knachered if i don't bake till tomorrow - I'll be up all night at this rate?

[JackieNo]

Some answers here (though it's an american site, but still - gives you an idea of how to do paper, how long to cook etc).

[ErnestTheBavarian]

jackie, thanks so much. fantastic. only q in need answering, it's academic really, is if my cake will be ruined if it doesn't get cooked until tomorrow. Won't all fit in oven, so like i say, academic really.

mental note - next year i make a quick sponge cake.

Never, ever again.

[JackieNo]

Hope it all worked OK, Ernest - the link did say, after the 'filling the pans' section
"Note: Cakes can be baked the next day if desired. Cover the cakes with a clean towel, foil or parchment paper and store in a cool, dry place.", so hopefully yours survived overnight :smile:

[ErnestTheBavarian]

aw thanks. Missed that bit. I left it in the garage and cooked it the next mornign. I'll let you know on 26th if it was ok. Seems ok so far

Bloody mini ones. never ever again.