Shop bought Christmas cake

[dottyaboutstripes]

Hi all! I'm trying to decide whether to bake my own cake - it would be a no brainer but only myself and my dd eat it (which is great because I love it, but also not so great because I eat LOADS of it 😋😆)
Anyway, I've tried shop bought ones but actually binned them because they weren't that great. Has anyone found one they love /would recommend?

The best shop bought small pieces of cake IMO are the Waitrose mini bites. Avoid the Mr Kipling ones whatever you do.

Yes - we buy the Waitrose No 1 cake. It's the closest I've found to my mother's. It often sells out as it's always on the Good Housekeeping list (it was top choice last year), but you can order it in advance and collect.

I was watching a TV programme last year about cakes (small firm that does mail order) they said they soak the fruit in alcohol for 5-7 days and don;t 'feed' the cake , there
s enough alcohol from the soak.
Use the best quality fruit you can find .

I use Amarretto to soak and bought Turkish sultanas (I don't like raisins or currants) it made a huge difference

<Enabler if you want to make your own cake>

I make a small one every year in my 1.5 litre slow cooker. It’s just enough.

250g dried fruit and nuts (glace cherries, sultanas and/or raisins, mixed peel, dried figs, fresh dates, roast hazels, slivered almonds, walnuts).
160ml liquid (I use tea with a slurp of alcohol)
Vanilla essence
1 egg, whisked
1/2 cup SR flour (mine is gf)
Spoon or so sugar
ground cloves, allspice

Soak the fruit overnight.
Fold in sifted flour, spices and sugar. Lastly the egg.

If GF, allow to sit for 1 hour to hydrate.

Bake in a double lined slow cooker for 3 hours on High. Fold a tea towel under the lid.