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Christmas

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Original poster

When to make a Christmas Cake?

28 replies

AhoyDelBoy · 01/09/2018 12:39

I am thinking of attempting a Christmas Cake for the first time this year. Does anybody have any must try recipes? I’ve always thought you make them months in advance but not sure if I’m imagining this? So should I try and make one ASAP?

Any recipes, hints, tips and tricks appreciated Smile

OP posts:
2anddone · 01/09/2018 12:56

I always make mine at the start of October then 'feed' it brandy every week until I ice it on 23rd December

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 01/09/2018 13:55

I generally make mine the first weekend after Halloween. It feels wrong before that!

BradleyPooper · 01/09/2018 14:03

I soak the fruit in brandy and spices from beginning of September (in large mason jars, turn them every day), make the cake in mid October and feed it from then til it's iced in December.

TittyGolightly · 01/09/2018 14:07

Hot toddy fruit cake on the BBC good food site. No need to feed it for months. Make it a week before.

MinecraftHolmes · 01/09/2018 14:10

I’ll be making mine in a couple of weeks Grin

Almondio · 01/09/2018 14:19

October half term is when I usually make mine. Then it just sits wrapped up in the cupboard with occasional douses of brandy or gran marnier until I marzipan/ice it a few days before Christmas.

Tobebythesea · 01/09/2018 14:43

I always make mine the third weekend in September.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/09/2018 16:18

Also think where you plan to store it while it matures.
Needs to be cooled and wrapped (I use fresh greaseproof paper and a double layer of foil) but you need to be able to get to it easily to feed it .

Temperature - cool, constant ,dry . We put ours on top of DH wardrobe.
I made a large cake last year (used my 12" square tin) cut into 4 squares to marzipan/ice 2 pieces, other 2 left plain.

Plain cake with Wendsleydale cheese is a delight for the tastebuds. Xmas Grin

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/09/2018 16:20

Ooh and for recipes , look at Delia and Mary Berry .
I use the Delia Christmas Cake recipe but with caster sugar , and only sultanas not currants/raisins .

I look at Paul Hollywood, not for cakes though , just because he's Paul Hollywood Xmas Blush

stargirl1701 · 01/09/2018 16:22

I usually go for the Autumn Equinox. 23rd Sep this year.

Chrisinthemorning · 01/09/2018 16:24

DH makes it using Paul Hollywood’s recipe in October.
This year he might do Delia’s Creole one instead.

neffall · 01/09/2018 16:26

Mary Berry's recipe, 25 September.

Bandol · 01/09/2018 16:37

Does the wine fridge sound like a good place to keep the cake to mature? It is at 12deg or is that too cold?

I've still got ingredients from last year from where I planned to make two cakes and only made one in the end.

I normally do the Ed Kimber cake but I want to try Delia's for a change. I love the idea of using mason jars for soaking the fruit. Normally I put it in my big mixing bowl covered in cling film.

Jessica78 · 01/09/2018 16:37

I do it on Stir up Sunday, which this year is 25th November. I never make a pudding, so it's nice to do it tgen, play some festive music [santa] have a drink...

ProseccoPoppy · 01/09/2018 16:41

I always do ours in October.

This one is one of our favourites (but replace the brandy with rum) www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/food/recipes/the-ultimate-christmas-cake-1

Treats · 01/09/2018 17:38

I like to weigh out the fruit and get it soaking in the first weekend of school half term and then bake it in the second weekend. I always use the fruit cake recipe from Nigella’s Domestic Goddess book but soak the fruit in whiskey.

I’m toying with the idea of trying a different recipe this year but am worried that it won’t be ‘our’ cake.

Foggymist · 01/09/2018 17:47

I bake them using a boiled fruit recipe in September or October, I don't feed them with alcohol because that just results in a cake soggy with raw alcohol, the boiled fruit method means your fruit is already juicy and doesn't need the alcohol to replace the moisture.

RuggerHug · 01/09/2018 19:32

Either Sept or Oct(think it was August one year...). They are fairly lethal in my family though, topped up with booze every week so they could end up with a litre of whiskey in them by Dec depending on where they're done...

Original poster
AhoyDelBoy · 01/09/2018 19:42

Thanks for all the suggestions! I think I might aim to make it after my DDs birthday in mid September (I have a 1st birthday cake to think about as well 😱). Will definitely look at some of the suggested recipes. I’m excited to attempt my first Christmas cake, hopefully I find a delicious recipe straight away so I don’t have to spend years experimenting till I do.

OP posts:
Original poster
AhoyDelBoy · 01/09/2018 19:43

Great tip @Foggymist thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
AhoyDelBoy · 01/09/2018 19:45

@70isaLimitNotaTarget mine might be going in the wardrobe too, thanks for all the info!

OP posts:
hereandnowtoday · 02/09/2018 16:25

I always use Nigella's recipe (love her Christmas book) and make mine late Oct/early Nov along with the Xmas pud.

SparklingXmas · 05/09/2018 21:36

We make ours on Remembrance Sunday.

Original poster
AhoyDelBoy · 06/09/2018 12:28

That's a nice idea @SparklingXmas. All of the recipes I’ve looked at say to make it a maximum of three months in advance. Still pondering what recipe to go with as they all seem pretty similar. Won’t be using Paul Hollywood’s recipe as it doesn’t have any spices in it. I don’t know how much you can taste those in the others though because the quantities are so small Hmm

OP posts:
goose1964 · 06/09/2018 18:56

I'll bstart mine in a few weeks, I let the fruit macerate for a week or so. As for recipes I usually do Delia's but omit the treacle, have tried Nigella's but DH prefers Delia's. Every few years we do the Creole Christmas cake which is very rich