Anyone else picked their Christmas cake design?

[Maxineputyourredshoeson]

As the title says really! I’ve just been buying bits and bobs for our Christmas cake. Last year DH made one for us and 5 friends and family, they were a huge hit so we’re - the Royal we obvs, are making them again this year.

We tend to like the simple look and last year was holly, well this year is going to be snowflakes and we’re aiming for something close to the picture.

Is it stupid I get overly excited by this??

That's lovely. I love cake and Christmas cake!! It's never too early to be thinking of Christmas cake. Simple designs are good, I usually try for something extravagant and fail. Lol my head is way more creative than my hands

Forgot to add, I've bought the fruit for mine so can start soaking it soon :)

Not picked the design but really exited to make our cake this year!

Can I ask when you make yours?

We have all the fruit and brandy ready to go - sorry I keep saying we but it’s DH well I buy he does .

He will probably start end of September/beginning of October, I can’t remember when it was last year.

We only decided last year whilst watching Bake Off to make them and before we knew it we had 6.

The joke was we were going to make 70’s style cakes with everything on them....

My cake last year was a success so I will be making that again. I dont like icing that much.

A round cake, covered in marzipan with chocolate fudge round the sides only, to look like a cut tree stump with marzipan mushrooms, crushed pistachios as moss and flaked almonds as fungus.

I'm the only one who likes Xmas cake though.

Love the stump one!

I'm making my cake today . The dried fruit has been soaking in loads of Cointreau for three days, and I'm on keto, so it's torture.

Think I'll make a square cake, then attempt a mountain slope design. Saw it years ago, but can't find the picture.

You cut the cake on a sort of off diagonal, then put both pieces on their sides. Then decorate with chocolate pine trees & a sled.

I just know, though, that it won't look as good as it does I'm my head, but I like the planning stage best.

@happysunr1se I absolutely love your cake, feel we need to up our game DH is the only one that eats it in our house too.

Our cakes are round, we only have round tins 🤦🏻‍♀️

I have my great grandmothers recipe (it's actually in her handwriting, it's lovely) to try out this year!

I've had all the Christmas cook books out this week to see what else I can make in advance.

The tree stump is amazing!

@happysunr1se wow your cake looks amazing!!

OP love love the design of this cake! I’ve done something similar to this in the past.

2020 has got me feeling all kind of ways and I’ve decided to go down the 80s route to recreate some childhood nostalgia! Have ordered all the tacky plastic animals and red and gold ribbon! Think retro

I'm moving house in October/November and would like to make a cake this year. Can you make it closer to the date or do you have to make it in advance?

I'm thinking of doing a retro 70s chocolate blog this year

Log

I make on every year but don’t ice it. We use it as part of our festive cheese boards.

Loving the beautiful decorations ideas though!

Does any one make Christmas cake, but in a loaf tin?

I’m excited to start mine, probably will get it done next weekend :)

I’m very loyal to nigella, and always go white on white. Trees/stars/snowflakes, sometimes a white ribbon, if I’ve got one. I let the kids put silver balls on one year and it was All Wrong.

Literally just feed my cakes for first time - love the stump design.

I really want to make a Christmas cake again this year, not done it for a few years BUT neither my husband nor my daughter like it 😫

@claireymrsd I make smaller Xmas cakes in (empty) baked bean tins etc - I love cake but I don't think it's good for me to still be eating it in March. I won't start soaking the fruit until October and I cook them in December but this year I might get them ready earlier and have one before Xmas for a change!

Mine wlll be the design of the one I purchase in Sainsbury's

Jumping on here to see if any of you have a good Christmas cake recipe? One that's like a proper heavy rich cake, not those cakey ones. If that makes sense

@didireallysaythat - oooh smaller cakes could be a good option. What recipe do you use and how long do you cook them for?

I’ve just realised that this is my first gluten free year. Let’s hope I can make something like a Christmas cake!

I’m going with royal icing again this year, but may do fondant snowflakes and put silver balls in the middle as that does look nice OP. I think I bought a snowflake cutter last year.

Yes, I thought fairly traditional cake with Santa Claus in the middle but wearing a mask and two groups of elves two metres (proportionally) apart.

Maybe some tiny blue masks scattered about in the 'snow' to create a realistic scene.

@claireymrsd

This is the one I use - slow cooking

www.thepinkwhisk.co.uk/2012/10/christmas-cake-baking-time.html

@didireallysaythat - thank you!