Anyone else started their Christmas cake?

[FlutteryButterfly]

As the title says!

I soaked my fruit in Amaretto for 1 week. The cake is baking away in the oven and almost ready to take out. Im using Delias recipe with my own tweaks. Itll probably just be me eating it but gets me feeling in the mood!

Every year my husband and kids ask why im doing it now and not nearer christmas and that itll be off etc. I explain and they choose yo tell me ive gone round the bend 😂

Halloween = Cristmas cake prep

So have you started, which recipe, which liquer or maybe none?

Now how to decorate? Ideas?

I usually do it in half term week, so I made mine a week ago. Soaking for a week though? I've used a couple of different recipes and they both say to soak overnight. Brandy, since you asked! I'm also using Delia's recipe - I used to use another one but find Delia's superior.

Are your family nuts? I always make two cakes, one to ice and one to eat throughout the year. We've only just finished last year's second cake, and it was still excellent.

Mine soak for at least 3 weeks! It’s got another two weeks to go.

I made mine last week too - always half term! I soaked mine in Brandy but only overnight. Recipe is from a 1970s Kenwood mixer book. I am making the puddings today!

Yup!! Full of Port, smells delicious, marzipan on. Done mine a bit earlier this year, one of them is going in a church raffle in a couple of weeks 😀

Fruit soaking in brandy and sloe gin as I type...

Rum cake made and in its tub till the end of December. We don't break into it until the mince pies are all gone, which takes a few days after making them on Christmas Eve. The fruit and peel soaked in rum for at least a fortnight before I baked it. It smelled absolutely glorious. I don't decorate it. It's incredibly moist and flavoursome.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/food/recipe46.shtml I don't bother separating the eggs. One large square cake.

Yes my family are mad 😂 or at least dont understand the process.

Yes the recipe only states overnight soaking but its way way bettertje longer you do!

Made mine two weeks ago. I also soak in amaretto but for three days. Works well.
I use light muscavado sugar instead of dark as prefer the taste and add chopped prunes to the fruit as they really add moistness.

Yes, why is he mansplaining Christmas cake production when he is clueless.

Christmas cake lasts for years. It's the same as wedding cake and traditionally the top tier is used as a christening cake for the first born child. Even if you are very quick at having a child or pregnant on your wedding day that’s months old cake you're serving.

Halloween is actually quite late. I do mine on August BH Monday because its usually raining and DP is usually working. Our Christmas cakes are never gone off by Christmas.

Yes made mine about 3/4 weeks ago as I’ve just given birth and wanted to get it done pre baby. Also made the Christmas pudding about 6 weeks earlier than Stir Up Sunday for the same reason.

Mine are done and being regularly fed.

Shouldn't it have been made in September?

I always make them in August too. As did my nan for seventy odd years and if it worked for her...

I suppose the earlier the better. Yours will be more boozy than mine 😂