I know its only march but..........

[cobysstepmummy]

When do you start your xmas cakes? and do you have a tried and tested recipe you could post!! Thanks

I usually put aside a miserable weekend in November to make Christmas cakes and puddings. One of those gloomy weekends when it's lashing down with rain outside are best because there's not a lot else to do! There's even a designated 'Stir-Up Sunday' in the calendar which is the last Sunday before Advent... same thing really :)

My tried and tested recipe is Delia's one for Very Rich Fruit Cake. VITAL that you use the right size tin and weigh all the ingredients properly... can't stress that enough... because if the mixture is too deep or too shallow then you can end up with some depressing results.

Same for the Christmas puddings. Her recipe is to put all the dried fruit in a bowl the night before and let it soak up the alcohol. So that happens Saturday night and gets finished off in the steamer the next day.

Have fun..

like chil i swear by delia's one but will add that i reduce the temp by 20oc as i bake it in the fan oven
i make mine earlier only because i have orders to fulfil as well and also so i can ensure that they're properly fed