Best Christmas cake

[Ferfecksackmammy]

My mum has always baked a beautiful Christmas cake and delicious Christmas pudding. This year she's been treated for Breast cancer and hasn't been up to making them.

Where can i buy the best cake and pudding. Marzipan and royal icing is a must!

I hope that your Mum feels better soon, OP.

Would you like to make the cake and pudding yourself as an option, or would you definitely prefer to buy?

In the past, I've had success with the Delia Smith classics, if you would like those.

I love the aromas in the kitchen on the day when I make them!

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/occasions/christmas/christmas-cakes-icings-and-toppings/classic-christmas-cake

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/occasions/christmas/christmas-cakes-icings-and-toppings/creole-christmas-cake

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/occasions/christmas/christmas-puddings/a-traditional-christmas-pudding

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/books/delias-happy-christmas/traditional-mince-pies

https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/collections/delia-online-cookery-school/christmas-stollen

First off - for your Mum going through such a horrible illness

If you want a rundown of cake taste tests then magazines like Good Housekeeeping will do their traditional "We did the hard work so you don't have to" article and 99% of the time it'll be an artisan baker and Aldi that win

I know you said "Buy" but TBH , I find bought cakes a bit rubbish and if I want one , I'll bake it . Not doing one this year as it's only me that eats it .
I used to take half to my D Parents (Dads bit just cake no marzipan or icing )
They would've 100% said 'homebaked over bought ' too, I think they liked the sentiment of a homebaked cake

I used Delias recipe but only sultanas ( so the whole weight that would be raisins/currants/sultanas in just sultanas ) white sugar not brown.
One tip I read was the best fruit you can find and soak well in alcohol then you don;t need to feed it .
Reduce the time cooking from the recipe , weigh everything and prepare the tins .

Obviously only relevant if you want to bake one .
(I used Delias marzipan recipe and thin layer of Royal Icing , not that horrible plastic fondant stuff)

I've tried M&S , Sainsbury , Waitrose , one from Costco . None of them made me want to re-buy them.

Ooh that should read "flowers" for your Mum but the site has mucked up the emojis .

I've never baked a Christmas cake before but I think I might have to . I'd agree that bought cakes are pretty disappointing and my mum's cake is always delicious. I think it would mean a lot to my mum too.

Aldi comes out well, unless you want to spend big.

Christmas Cake testing

M&S do a Christmas cake kit if you want to make one without buying everything individually, others probably do but I've noticed them in Marks already.

I use the Waitrose Christmas cake kit each year. You have to add a couple of ingredients (eggs are one) but it comes out perfectly every time.