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Christmas

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Original poster

Christmas cake and dietary requirements

53 replies

HouseIsOnFire · 13/10/2022 23:09

Hi all, each year I religiously* follow Delia's Christmas cake recipe and make several for presents.

*I swap out the treacle for more brandy and it makes the world of difference!

This year two of the usual recipients will have some dietary requirements.

One has developed a lactose intolerant - looking at it I could just swap out the butter for vegan block, but has anyone tried this? Does it work ok? It's an expensive recipe to wreck with vegan butter 😅

The other is expecting so whilst the brandy in cake will be cooked off fine and I'll skip the royal icing (egg whites), what do you feed the cake with? Internet says orange juice but I'd like some reassurance!

If anyone else is baking for tricksy people, please feel free to add your conundrums- hopefully we can help each other!

OP posts:
NoDairyNoProblem · 13/10/2022 23:53

I have previously made and fed a cake with cold black tea for a tee total relative.

No idea about the butter but keen to know if others have as I can no longer eat dairy either.

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 14/10/2022 00:41

Try cooking some cake with vegan butter and see what you think. You just need to make a simple cake, not the proper Christmas cake. Same for alternatives for icing and booze. I have to cook everything dairy/egg/wheat free because of my dc's allergies. It's good enough but it's different.

TooHotToRamble · 14/10/2022 00:55

Butter is extremely low in lactose (it's mainly fat), so should be fine for someone who is lactose intolerant. Hard cheese is also OK for the same reason. My DS is lactose intolerant.

ImpossibleGirl · 14/10/2022 01:41

I know this is the gluten free version, but last year's trial we did with baking block was fairly bomb proof and enjoyed by all (some had no idea it was GF)

glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk/2020/10/17/gluten-free-christmas-cake-recipe/

She mentions options / swaps / pointers for changing to dairy free / vegan / alcohol free.

Worth maybe dividing the recipe (1/4 or smaller) and trying some?

TowerblocksAndSunflowers · 14/10/2022 07:13

Plenty of people bake regularly with marg not butter; it will not have quite the same flavour but will be fine with all the other ingredients - sugar, fruit, booze in place.

However I would be worried that feeding a fruit cake with OJ will just make a soggy mess that will ferment and fizz. Surely the point of the booze is to preserve?? You might be better to find a different recipe rather than try to adapt a classic one - ie make a different kind of fruit cake.

Original poster
HouseIsOnFire · 14/10/2022 09:34

NoDairyNoProblem · 13/10/2022 23:53

I have previously made and fed a cake with cold black tea for a tee total relative.

No idea about the butter but keen to know if others have as I can no longer eat dairy either.

Oooh, could you taste the tea after?

OP posts:
Original poster
HouseIsOnFire · 14/10/2022 09:35

grapehyacinthisactuallyblue · 14/10/2022 00:41

Try cooking some cake with vegan butter and see what you think. You just need to make a simple cake, not the proper Christmas cake. Same for alternatives for icing and booze. I have to cook everything dairy/egg/wheat free because of my dc's allergies. It's good enough but it's different.

Yes, I have tried pther lactose cakes but bit nervous as don't feel like a sponge is comparable to a fruitcake!

My preferred substitute is coconut oil, but that's not fruitcake friendly!

OP posts:
Original poster
HouseIsOnFire · 14/10/2022 09:36

TooHotToRamble · 14/10/2022 00:55

Butter is extremely low in lactose (it's mainly fat), so should be fine for someone who is lactose intolerant. Hard cheese is also OK for the same reason. My DS is lactose intolerant.

Thank you, she's specifically said she can't eat butter.

she's also said she thinks she's going to be hypnotised out of it, but that's another kettle of fish!!

OP posts:
Original poster
HouseIsOnFire · 14/10/2022 09:38

ImpossibleGirl · 14/10/2022 01:41

I know this is the gluten free version, but last year's trial we did with baking block was fairly bomb proof and enjoyed by all (some had no idea it was GF)

glutenfreecuppatea.co.uk/2020/10/17/gluten-free-christmas-cake-recipe/

She mentions options / swaps / pointers for changing to dairy free / vegan / alcohol free.

Worth maybe dividing the recipe (1/4 or smaller) and trying some?

Ahh thank you!

I make Delia's and just sub in gluten free flour, cannot taste the difference - was pleasantly surprised!

OP posts:
Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 14/10/2022 09:39

If you do use tea, Earl Grey would be good.

Pinkbananas01 · 14/10/2022 09:43

Cold black tea def works instead of booze for soaking fruit & feeding cake, you don't taste it.

PinkyU · 14/10/2022 09:44

We’re a dairy free household due to a medical diet x2, we use an olive oil based spread for cakes/muffins and really don’t notice the difference, plus £1.09 from aldi, can’t go wrong.

NannyR · 14/10/2022 09:51

The Royal icing sugar that already has powdered egg white in should be fine as the egg white will be pasteurised.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 14/10/2022 09:53

I occasionally make a barm brack (a kind of tea bread) where the fruit is soaked overnight in black tea and the sugar. The fruit turns out very plump and juicy but you don’t really taste the tea.
Was a v good recipe during the 1st lockdown when eggs were scarce - only one egg and no butter.

NoDairyNoProblem · 14/10/2022 09:58

HouseIsOnFire · 14/10/2022 09:34

Oooh, could you taste the tea after?

Show quote history

Absolutely not. It was delicious and I plan to make it again this year.

mummyh2016 · 14/10/2022 09:58

Can you make your usual and then just do a tiny version for the lactose intolerant and pregnant people?

Original poster
HouseIsOnFire · 14/10/2022 10:01

TowerblocksAndSunflowers · 14/10/2022 07:13

Plenty of people bake regularly with marg not butter; it will not have quite the same flavour but will be fine with all the other ingredients - sugar, fruit, booze in place.

However I would be worried that feeding a fruit cake with OJ will just make a soggy mess that will ferment and fizz. Surely the point of the booze is to preserve?? You might be better to find a different recipe rather than try to adapt a classic one - ie make a different kind of fruit cake.

Well today I learned! Had no idea margarine didn't have lactose in it- how dim of me!!!! Much happier if I'm cooking with stork, not vegan block!

Yes, I just don't see how orange juice would work. Maybe it's just a case of making that cake just before Christmas!

OP posts:
Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 14/10/2022 10:01

As long as it’s lion stamped egg (all commercial uk ones are) it’s fine. Block stork (not the tub one) is dairy free and is good for cakes.

Original poster
HouseIsOnFire · 14/10/2022 10:03

NoDairyNoProblem · 14/10/2022 09:58

Absolutely not. It was delicious and I plan to make it again this year.

Show quote history

Will it a whirl!

Thank you all over tea suggesters too!

OP posts:
Original poster
HouseIsOnFire · 14/10/2022 10:04

mummyh2016 · 14/10/2022 09:58

Can you make your usual and then just do a tiny version for the lactose intolerant and pregnant people?

Not really I don't think, as it's 2 house holds and they always get a proper sized Christmas cake (it's a lot of work but it's in lieu of pressies and takes all the brain work out!!)

OP posts:
Original poster
HouseIsOnFire · 14/10/2022 10:05

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 14/10/2022 10:01

As long as it’s lion stamped egg (all commercial uk ones are) it’s fine. Block stork (not the tub one) is dairy free and is good for cakes.

Thank you! Good job you said as was just eyeing up my tub of stork, which didn't mention lactose! 🤯

OP posts:
mummyh2016 · 14/10/2022 10:08

@HouseIsOnFire ahh sorry I skimmed your post and I thought you meant they were coming for xmas dinner.

findingsomeone · 14/10/2022 10:10

TooHotToRamble · 14/10/2022 00:55

Butter is extremely low in lactose (it's mainly fat), so should be fine for someone who is lactose intolerant. Hard cheese is also OK for the same reason. My DS is lactose intolerant.

Interesting. I am lactose intolerant and cope with butter, but the likes of milk and yoghurt are another matter!

longtompot · 14/10/2022 10:12

Vegan block is just like having butter in cakes. I really like Flora plant based salted 'butter'. My dd is allergic to dairy so I have had to adapt a lot of my baking.
If you were to use tea in the cake then sometimes Sainsburys do a taste the difference Christmas tea which has cinnamon and other Christmassy flavours. That might work well. I'm not sure about feeding with it though as doesn't the alcohol act as a preserving agent as well as a moistening one?

Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas · 14/10/2022 10:19

HouseIsOnFire · 14/10/2022 10:05

Thank you! Good job you said as was just eyeing up my tub of stork, which didn't mention lactose! 🤯

Show quote history

Lactose is the sugar in milk. As you get older people produce less of the enzyme needed to digest lactose which is why some people become lactose intolerant as they get older or temporary lactose intolerance can happen after an illness. You need to look out for milk as an ingredient not lactose.