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Christmas

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Original poster

Christmas Cake Club - Anyone who wants to join.......

225 replies

UCM · 13/10/2006 23:26

I am going to buy the fruit to soak this weekend (needs to be in sherry for a week) so I thought I would pass my recipe on to anyone who wants it. But anyone who is making their own cake please feel free to pass on tips or your own recipe, like what alternative alcohol do you use??

6oz sultanas
6oz raisins
4oz currants
4oz glacecherries
3oz mixed peel
1/4 pint sherry
6oz butter
6oz soft brown sugar
4 eggs
4oz SR flour
4oz plain flour
pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon mixed spice
1oz ground almonds

Mix together all fruit. pour sherry over and leave to soak for 1 week, covered. Stir frequently until required.

Grease & line a 7 - 8 inch cake tin

Method

Cream butter & sugar until soft & fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Fold in flour, salt & ground almonds. Drain off any liquid from the fruit and mix fruit into mixture stirring until well blended. Put into prepared tin, smooth top and bake just below middle of oven for 1 hour on gas mark 3. Then cover with foil and reduce oven to gas mark 2 and cook for a further 1.5 hours until firm to touch. Leave to stand in tin until nearly cold. remove from tin, prick well and pour over liquid from dried fruit. Wrap in foil or greaseproof paper and leave to mature until a few days before christmas, then marzipan & ice.

Tips: I don't like almonds so didn't use em. I also put some chocolate liqueur in with the sherry. also I don't like marzipan so didn't ice, but did make one for a relative which I did ice and it was easy. I have never made a christmas cake before and I have to say this recipe works like a dream.

I thought we could have an 'add booze to Christmas Cake night, where you drip some more booze in once a week and drink some as well

OP posts:
vitomum · 26/10/2006 21:05

update - have just taken my cake out the oven and it looks great! I will hold off with smugness though cos i know many pitfalls lie ahead.

I did not have any excess liquid from the fruit soaking (stuck to the 1/4 pint) so i am just going to put a spoonful of brandy on it tonight instead. I am asking everyone i know for an old tin cos i have heard that i so much better than the tupperware thing i have. Keep those tips acoming and thankyou UCM for the recipe. It really was easy and looks good.

Rosa5 · 26/10/2006 21:39

hurrah my fruit has arrived from the Uk ( can't get it all here so had to get it sent over ) so its being weighed out in the morning and then in 4 its soak ..will get there eventually as have now to go for a hunt for a decent cake tin !

mymama · 26/10/2006 22:39

My fruit is still soaking. Has been soaking since Monday. Think I will bake today. How soon after you bake do you do the first feed??

winnie · 26/10/2006 22:49

I made my Xmas cake last weekend. Everyone seems to think it's too soon but I always do it at this time of year. I love the build up to Xmas

Original poster
UCM · 27/10/2006 10:13

Vitomum, it really is a simple one isn't it. Thanks. I couldn't believe how quick it was to make, took me about 20 mins.

OP posts:
Original poster
UCM · 27/10/2006 17:25

After some thought, I think we should wait for 'feeding' until everyone on this thread has caught up and got a cake to feed. What do you lot think???

OP posts:
Original poster
UCM · 27/10/2006 17:25

Forgot to add Rosa, glad you are fruited up now!!

OP posts:
Rosa5 · 27/10/2006 19:56

I hope to have the cake made by next weekend.. Fruit is soaking in mixture of brandy, choc liqueur and it tastes lovely !!
Here's hoping that the sultanas appreciate it as well .

ludaloo · 27/10/2006 20:02

I made my cake about 2 weeks ago...I am just a tad worried it might go green reading all these...I don't think I let it cool for very long before putting it away....I also over added the whiskey....If I stuck it in the oven again do you think it might dry out abit..or would it ruin it?...or will it be ok do you think????

I have a funny feeling I'm gonna be making a last minute one!!!!

GoingQuietlyMad · 27/10/2006 22:03

My fruit is still soaking!!! 2 weeks and counting....

I am now starting to think i will never get the cake made, but the fruit soaking has turned into a masterpiece. i have added freshly grated lemon peel and some more brandy.

have the feeling that i will be watching the fruit soak for a long while longer......

Bozza · 28/10/2006 16:04

Right I have finally got round to soaking my fruit today. DD was "helping" and eating dates as fast as I could chop them. So can join back in now.

maewickedwitchofthewest · 29/10/2006 16:03

Hey can I join - just making my cake today (fruit soaked in brandy for 24 hrs). It's all mixed up but I'm waiting for 3 month old DS to wake from his nap so that he can have a stir ( sad I know, but it's what we always did at home and it's his first xmas)

mummy2jake · 29/10/2006 19:50

i wanna join i have just made my very first christmas cake this thread inspired me to attempt i used the receipe given at the start of the thread just doubled the quantities my mum came round and watched over me as im not excatly the worlds best cook and my mums a whizz in the kitchen.

mummy2jake · 29/10/2006 19:50

i wanna join i have just made my very first christmas cake this thread inspired me to attempt i used the receipe given at the start of the thread just doubled the quantities my mum came round and watched over me as im not excatly the worlds best cook and my mums a whizz in the kitchen.

mymama · 29/10/2006 20:44

Monday morning here and my fruit has been soaking for a week. Will be baking the cake later today.

GoingQuietlyMad · 30/10/2006 12:12

finally getting round to baking the cake today. hope the fruit is still okay. smells amazing with all that brandy in it.

got my laptop in the kitchen for the recipe, and two dds in highchair and at breakfast bar. should be fun.

BudaBeast · 30/10/2006 12:23

Have sorted out the fruit for mine finally! So will weigh out and soak before I get DS from school.

Original poster
UCM · 30/10/2006 12:33

Ooooh it all sounds like everyone is in control. You know flick fingers and the little blue flame appears. Let us know how they turn out.

OP posts:
vitomum · 30/10/2006 18:54

UCM you can't abandon us now! i am doing my first feed on thursday. am i right in thinking a tablespoon will be enough? do i skewer it again first?

Original poster
UCM · 30/10/2006 19:17

Oo I would never abandon you all. I just want to know how everyones cakes turn out once out of the oven.

I believe that about 20 pricks with a sharpe knife/skewer will be ok with a desertspoon of booze. Now dont quote me on this as I haven't done this before. I simply made the cake and left it without feeding.

OP posts:
GoingQuietlyMad · 30/10/2006 19:25

Apologies for the long post but here goes:

I made double quantities and now have three cakes - a main one, a small present one (not sure who for yet) and a loaf tin one.

The loaf tin one is my tester, to be eaten slice by slice at regular intervals between now and xmas, to see how the flavour changes.

Just had my first piece, and am happy to report that the cake is absolutely delicious - easily the best one I have ever made. And it was really quick and easy - took only 30 mins from start to oven.

Thank you UCM for a fantastic recipe and idea. I look forward to the feeding nights.

BTW I have now added about a couple of tablespoons of brandy to each cake. To avoid the mouldy soggy fiasco that was last time I need very specific instructions on how much to put in!

GoingQuietlyMad · 30/10/2006 19:28

Now I know why my last one went soggy. I literally soaked it with glassfuls of brandy.

I thought I was being restrained this time when I drizzled the cakes with a couple of tablespoons each.

MissyBabee · 30/10/2006 20:01

ooh, you've all inspired me soo much that i'm going to do a cake this year too. PIL and SIL's lot all coming so it's a good excuse. my side of the family never eat christmas cake and, personally, i'm not much of a fan either but i LOVE to cook and i'm definitely up for this one.

going to try your recipe too UCM - thanks so much for the inspiration. don't think i've ever started a christmas cake this early (and i can see i'm already late by the look of this thread !).

BudaBeast · 30/10/2006 20:30

Soaked my fruit!

DH did look a bit concerned when he came home tonight and saw his whiskey in the kitchen!

Tough!

vitomum · 30/10/2006 20:40

a tester cake GQM