Alternatives to Christmas cake?

[LePetitPont]

I love to bake and currently on maternity leave, so have a bit of time on my hands (pre-baby!). Unfortunately neither my DH nor I are massive fans of actual Christmas cake. Just a bit heavy and stodgy and never-ending.

Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions for long lasting cakes with a Christmassy vibe?

But not toooo long lasting, of course!

We dont like it in our house either, so the other year I just made a regular sponge cake (madeira) & iced it with a snowy penguin scene. Got the inspiration from pinterest. It was quite fun to make & tasted good too, so didnt last very long before it was eaten!

Carrot cake is nicely spiced but not as heavy as a traditional Christmas Cake (I don't do the frosting)

I do a lighter cake (Delias but with caster sugar, no spices, sultanas , cherries and mixed nuts)
Amarretto not sherry or brandy.

Or, what about a Stollen? They're gorgeous (but I'd only do it in a mixer, my arms wouldn't be up to kneading dough)...........................................................................................................................................See you've made me think about Paul Hollywood now...................goes off for a day dream

As above, we do a Madeira cake with the icing in peaks for snow, and then go crazy with the decoration. It's one of my favourite Xmas things. Only thing is you can't make it way in advance like a traditional Xmas cake

A rich chocolate fudge cake? If it's a nice dense one it should last a while.

This one is lovely

www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3092/ultimate-chocolate-cake

Could you bake and fill the freezer? No cake lasts as long as alcohol - loaded fruit cake, alas.

Or go sideways from baking into jam making etc if you don't have the freezer space?