Is it too late to start making a Christmas cake?

[tectonicplates]

Have we left it too late or is it still worth doing?

No. It just won't be as boozy but you so could.

Definitely not. Go for it

It's not too late and you can always 'top it up' with your drink of choice over the next few weeks. Poke some holes in the cooked cake with either a knitting needle or toothpick and just pour your favourite tipple on. You've plenty of time to do that.

I’m making a boozy Dundee cake instead. They keep for about 4 weeks so haven’t made it yet.

Not at all, my fruit is currently soaking, I will be baking the cake tomorrow.

Stir up Sunday isn't until this Sunday, the 22nd. That's the 'traditional' weekend for making your cake.

Plus it really wouldn't be too late until the 26th of December. You just wouldn't have time to 'feed' it extra booze. It would still be perfectly good without that element.

I'm glad someone else has heard of Stir up Sunday. I mentioned it on a thread about Christmas puddings and no one had a clue what I was talking about!

"Stir up, we beseech thee O Lord the wills of your faithful people"

Book of Common prayer. Collect for the last Sunday before advent.

I'm going to make one this weekend! Here's hoping all the ingredients come in my Sainsburys delivery tomorrow.

I’m making mine on this Sunday.

@Toddlerteaplease there's now a Stir Up Sunday Christmas pudding thread. We've definitely heard of it over there. 😊

Made mine last weekend. Delia’s creole Christmas cake.... lush!

Great! Feel free to link to your tried and trusted recipes. I've never made one before, but we've really got into baking cakes this year!

We’re going to do ours this Sunday - Stir up Sunday.

We’re doing Delia’s but we’ve not done it before. Lots of people highly recommend it, though. We’re tweaking it a little (don’t tell Delia!! ) with some crystallised ginger.

@yellowmaoampinball stir up Sunday is traditionally for making your Christmas pudding not your Christmas cake.

I use this recipe
www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/mrs-mackinnons-christmas-fruitcake-233422

My husband really likes it. I replace some of the glacé fruit with whatever dried fruit I fancy. I cover it in marzipan and royal icing because he likes it. I add extra alcohol.

I eat very little of it.

We’re doing it on stir up Sunday because we don’t make a pudding and I like the idea of doing the cake the week before Advent starts. Plus I’ve read it recommended to feed it 4 or 5 times so if we do that weekly it works out perfectly for Christmas.

I am actually doing the cake this weekend though, as well as a pudding and some cookies apparently

I recommend delias creole cake but you need to soak the fruit for a week before you make the cake.

www.deliaonline.com/recipes/occasions/christmas/christmas-cakes-icings-and-toppings/creole-christmas-cake

I always make the Jane asher last minute cake 2 weeks before Xmas. Its by far the nicest cake, better than Delias etc

You do have to siak the fruit in alcohol overnight,

I always make this one. It's my absolute favourite. I use dried sour cherries instead of the pineapple though, and soak the fruit in double the recommended booze.

I used to make a cake, ice it etc. and steamed the Christmas puddings. But those who loved them have all passed on now so no need anymore bless them all.

But no, it's not too late. But I'd buy it in though, and feed it with booze. No one will notice, hic

If you like your cake iced, then realistically 21st Dec is about the latest you can get your cake in the oven. That gives time for it to bake, cool, marzipan, let that dry overnight, and ice with a couple of coats / added decoration. 22nd just about possible but risky :)

My cake is still several bags of dried fruit in the pantry that haven't been prepped for soaking yet. Too many overdue jobs to sort out first.

I use this recipe from Tesco, really easy to make and tastes delicious.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/restaurants-bars/janes-quick-xmas-cake-1014740 this the last minute christmas cake