Bakers! I want to do my first ever Christmas cake. When? How? Help!

[LabubuLabulabulabubu]

I want to bake a Christmas cake.

When should I bake it? How do I 'feed' it?

Can I use Ameretto? Its the only alcohol anyone likes.

Best recipe?

Thanks!

Yes, Delia. Her Christmas cake and Christmas pudding have graced our table for years.

Yes I make this one too (the recipe is online - search for Delia’s Creole Christmas cake). So easy, always delicious. Because you simmer the dried fruit in the booze first and then let that soak for at least a week (and because of the v large amount of booze) it doesn’t then need feeding - no harm if you wanted to feed it anyway. I would note that Delia’s oven temperatures usually are for a conventional oven not a fan oven, so reduce accordingly.

The Creole Christmas cake calls for I think 4 different types of booze but if you didn’t want to buy all the different types, am sure any combination/ just amaretto would be fine.

A mixture of alcohol is better - always double the quantity and a mix of brandy, port and an orange liqueur. A bit of Amaretto is fine as there are often ground almonds in the cake. I always add some freshly grated orange rind too.

My only tip is that they usually take a long while to bake. When I made my first one I started late in the evening and couldn’t go to bed when I wanted as it was still baking

I like the bbc good food ‘as you like it’ Christmas cake, use the fruit you like (I tend to go with cranberries, apricots, glacé cherries) and amaretto for the booze. Always get complimented on it, and it’s definitely beginner proof.

you are right Creaol not Caribbean. As I typed it I thought that’s wrong which considering how long I have been making it I should know better……