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Christmas

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Christmas cake help

6 replies

NellyTheCake · 11/11/2024 16:24

This year it will be just me & my mum together at Christmas.
She's in her 80s, in poor health & almost house bound.

So Christmas won't really be much a special day for us.
However, she really likes Christmas cake.

Growing up she always made her own from the Hamlyn All Colour Cookbook. It was a rich, moist fruit cake with the right amount marzipan & royal icing.

More recently she has bought a small cake (more like a slab) from a local coffee shop. But this shop has closed down.

I'd like to find a Christmas cake that is similar to the ones she used to make.

It needs to be fruity & moist. Dark fruit cake, almost Christmas pudding like, not the pale, dry crumbly cake that most shops seem to sell now.
I only need enough for us to have a couple of slices each over a few days. So making one isn't an option.

Any ideas?
Thanks

OP posts:
xmasdealhunter · 11/11/2024 16:32

Bettys do Christmas Cake bites. They also do an iced version in a tin, if you'd prefer a round cake.
Christmas Cake Bites

LikeABat · 11/11/2024 16:40

I would use Nigella or Delia recipe and 6 inch (15cm) round tin. It keeps really well so can safely be eaten over a few weeks.
2 eggs
110 g each plain flour soft brown sugar butter
450g mixed dried fruit soaked in 60ml brandy sherry or similar or you can buy ready soaked
1/2 TSP ground mixed spice
40g ground almonds
1tsp black treacle
Zest of 1/2 lemon and 1/2 orange.
Method is similar to a sponge cake and gently stir in fruit at the end. Bake at 140-150C for about 2.5-3 hours but covered with extra paper on top of tin and the outside.

Pistolpunk · 11/11/2024 16:58

M and s do a realy small xmas cake. It's about £7 or £8. I just buy that one every year as I'm the only one who likes it and the teen has a bit on xmas eve night with me.

mitogoshigg · 11/11/2024 17:30

Lidl has a decent one, alternatively if you have time, use Mary berry's recipe (on bbc) and halve the quantities, or I have that cookbook (well in the loft) I can send the receipe.

NellyTheCake · 11/11/2024 17:34

Thanks everyone

I don't want to make a cake. It would be too much for the 2 of us.
And mum doesn't have the will power not to eat the whole lot! She forgets lots, although I'm not sure having extras of Christmas cake would be down to her memory problems 🤔

I'll have a look at the ones suggested.
A taste test might be needed

OP posts:
NellyTheCake · 11/11/2024 17:36

mitogoshigg · 11/11/2024 17:30

Lidl has a decent one, alternatively if you have time, use Mary berry's recipe (on bbc) and halve the quantities, or I have that cookbook (well in the loft) I can send the receipe.

I still have the Hamlyn book
The recipes were written by Mary Berry

The Christmas cake making at half term was the highlight of my childhood.

But it's not practical for me to make it now.

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