Devastated- burnt my Christmas Cake

[HerondaleDucks]

This year we decided that we would have a smaller christmas as finances are tight.
I normally make 2 christmas cakes a year, one for me and my family and then one for my neighbour.
This year my dh told his friend I would make them one and my neighbour told her mum I would make her one too (she said she's sick of her mum stealing half of hers)
So I thought I would speed up the process I've spent the last 2 weeks feeding my fruit and have spent the whole weekend baking Christmas cakes (which take roughly 4 and a half hours each) I used my top oven to speed up the process and bake two at once but I misjudged the times and it cooked more quickly than I expected.
When I took it out last night it was a bit browner than I would of liked but I thought it would be fine.
However I've looked at it tonight to wrap it up to feed it for this week and then marzipan and ice them next weekend. But the bottom is well and truly burnt as well as the sides. Think knocking on the bottom of a loaf of bread.
Now I have to make a rush job one and my arm is killing me from the 4 I've made this weekend. And I just want to cry.
I tried to cut the burnt off but it looks awful and it's not salvagable.
So cross at myself!

Oh no,what a pain!

Why are people offering your bloody cake making services to people? Just say no!

Use a cheese grater to scrape the burnt bits off the outside before you give up as a lost cause. I have done this (too often!) and it really can make the difference.

Can you turn it into mini cakes (I've used a cookie cutter on a burn/crumbled edge cake before) so at least it's not completely wasted?

Surely all these cakes are costing you a fortune! The ingredients are expensive!

Poor you! But I have to agree with pp - no one should be offering up your services without asking you first, and next time you need to just say no.

Give the burnt one to one of the cheeky sods who give away your time, energy and money to others.

Will I share a secret?

I used to make 6 Christmas cakes a year for family who all raved about them. One year, I had too much on so bought the plain Christmas cakes from Lidl, soaked them in brandy every week, and marzipanned and iced them. The MIL said it was the best yet and the size was better (my tin is much bigger).

So that's what I've done the past four years. Just make one home made one for us. Keeps us going into February!

Genius! Thank you for all the tips everyone.
I am like @OllyBJolly, my xmas cakes are well loved. My mum expects one every year. I will be firmer next year and say no unless they pay for them. Xmas cakes are pretty expensive and time consuming!