Anybody made Nigel Slater's Christmas cake before?

[Badtasteflump]

It's the recipe in the Christmas Chronicles. I was planning on making it in the next few days, but realised when writing my ingredients list that there are no spices in it! Seems strange when he talks about spices in his pre-recipe blurb. I've never baked a Christmas cake that doesn't have spices in before - so I'm wondering if it's a mistake? Anybody used the recipe before and how did it turn out?

I make it every year - it’s my favourite! Used to use Delia but I got appetite for my birthday in November one year. Swapped to Nigel and never looked back!

Ah thank you - so no spices and fine without them then?

Yes - I was surprised the first time I made it but it’s really delicious. I think the key is to use a really good variety of dried fruits. I always include figs, cranberries and a few prunes

I made it at the weekend, there was a bit of mix left so I made some fairy cake extras with the mix, they are very tasty. A bit of cinnamon wouldn't go amiss though.

@pushmepullyou @EverEversoDisorganised thanks for the reassurance 🙂. Just gave the cake its first 'feed' and was a bit 😲 to read Nigel says to give it 3 tablespoons each time - sounds like a lot! I gave it one spoon and even that looked too much. Did you feed yours as much as he says?

I gave mine their first feed this morning, they are 8 small baked bean tin sized ones. I poked holes in them with a cocktail stick and dripped brandy in from a calpol syringe. One syringe full for the lot so that’s 5mL. 3tbsp is 45mL, it would be soaking! Also we don’t like our cake too boozy. I probably could have doubled it though.

@Pushmepullyou were you on the Flylady threads years ago?

I make his kitchen diaries one every year and it always goes down a treat. I soak fruits in rum and just use raisins sultanas apricots and cherries. I add more nuts like pecan hazelnut and whole almonds. I don't feed it because a) nothing about that in kitchen diaries and b) dc wouldn't like it.

Recipie adds vanilla. Might add a small spoon of cinnamon this year reading thus, but I don't reckon it needs it.

Edited typo

@EversoDisorganised I was! Now wondering who you were then!

@Pushmepullyou have messaged you