Best Christmas cake recipe?

[AnneLovesGilbert]

I'm making one this year for the first time and know I need to make it asap.

Can anyone recommend a failsafe recipe? Doesn't need to be that big.

I use Mary Berry

www.maryberry.co.uk/recipes/baking/mary-berrys-classic-fruit-cake

The recipe I have is in one of her books, the quantities are slightly less here but all the same ingredients.

Treacle! Looks amazing. Thank you.

No one is a real lover of Christmas cake is our house. So making a Tunis Cake - Merry Berry recipe

I use Delia’s Classic Christmas cake recipe. Ever fails.

I also make her Dundee cake for those who prefer a less heavy cake.

Never 😂.

It might be sacreligious but I use Lisa Faulkner's Simnel cake recipe and just ice it like a Christmas cake! It's got a layer of marzipan baked into the middle. Mmmm. I've made her Christmas cake too but it's the Simnel cake recipe that gets the best comments!

None of us are into marzipan, so I make Delia's Creole Christmas Cake and top it with dried fruit and nuts, but you can ice it. It's very moist and delicious. Uses some strange alcohol, but I usually just get miniatures.

We gradually went off it over the years and DM was offering it to the neighbours come March! Which is why I don't want to make a massive one.

But I really like the idea of making one this year, even if we don't eat much of it.

I far prefer marzipan to icing

And I've never made Simnel cake.... I'll have a look at that as well, thank you.

Have I got enough time to still make a hearty fruit type and feed it booze?

Yes, you've loads of time. I usually make mine the weekend after Halloween.

I make Delia's Creole one too. It's very flexible, you don't have to stick to the obscure drinks, you can just use whatever you have (or can find in a shop!). And I generally vary the fruit as well. In fact, I don't really make Delia's cake at all, more an approximation of it.

I have done this one for yearas, it's no really a Christmas cake but it's sort of a pudding v cake cross-breed of dark and treacley goodness.

www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2006_06_fri_02.shtml

I do Delia's, but play around with the dried fruit (just aim at total quantity and mix any in - eg cranberries, dates, apricots as well as the standard ones), also think Delia is far too "mean" with the alcohol for soaking.

My fruit started soaking last Saturday with a good quarter bottle of Southern Comfort and a dash of Stones Ginger Wine (i vary each year what alcohol i use - last year it was Grand Marnier heavy). I'll drain the fruit before it's used in the cake and the thick starchy alcohol that is left will be drizzled into the cake when it comes out of the oven.
Planning on making on Sunday (kids make, i supervise). Obviously will be fed weekly until marzipanning.

Another vote for Mary Berry

I'm very strongly against glace cherries and not at all fond of candied peel so will definitely go with a mix of other better fruits.

How fancy does everyone go on the icing? I might stretch to cutting out some shapes from royal icing but not very inspired! And when do you ice it? Christmas Eve or a week before?

You've got loads of time to make a rich boozy fruit cake. I made mine last weekend.

Not sure how often to feed it brandy though, Mary Berry just says "occasionally". Any advice?

I could also do with some tips for decorating the cake, so thanks for asking op. Definitely not my strong point.

Well 12 weeks till Christmas, so a feed a week or a fortnight? I don't have a clue!

Did you soak your fruit first Penguin?

I'm looking forward to the smell

If you soak your fruit for 2 or 3 weeks it doesn't matter how soon you make it before Xmas because unless you're an alcoholic you don't need to Inject it with booze of course!

I used the basic Delia smith recipe but with the fruit that my family liked, sadly we don't eat it any more so I don't cook it. I do cook an Xmas pudding though and make it in a similar way.

Not an alcoholic, but do enjoy a boozy cake! It only gets a teaspoon each week, turning cake each time

Delia, it tastes like the one my grandma used to make. I'm a bit of a stick in the mud re Christmas cake, I'm not into fancy fruit (but will make an exception for a small amount of dried cranberries) and I don't like super boozy cakes. Nicely spiced and moist is my fruitcake quality barometer. I make mine around now and feed fairly sporadically. Usually end up icing on Christmas Eve...

Oh and I marzipan and do royal icing in the rough snow scene style because I don't like fondant icing. I stick cheesy figures and a ribbon on it too. Super retro.

I did soak my fruit, but only in 4tbsp brandy and overnight... maybe I should have left it a bit longer! It does smell delish when it's cooking

That decoration sounds good reetgood! I'll attempt to do marzipan and some form of icing... haven't decided in the extra bits yet.

Delias Christmas cake has never failed me yet.

IMO marzipan is the only nice part of Xmas cake, good idea to make a Simnel cake for Christmas!

I like the Kerala Plum Cake, It is a nutty and fruity cake, flavored with spices. I think you should also try this light cake recipes and enjoy the unique flavor of cake. Have a look at - www.nutralite.com/recipe-detail/kerala-plum-cake

One year when i could decide on a decoration i topped it with rough icing like a snow scene and the popped a candle ring on the top, The sort thats got holly leaves on , And then tied a matching ribbon around the middle,