Christmas Cake - Anyone got any good (easy!) recipies?

[Girly]

Have been inspired by the xmas traditions thread and have decided to make a cake, have made one before but it was complicated and took weeks of soaking etc etc. Want to get dd (4) to help so is there a bung it all in type? I know that the fruit will need soaking, I can do this in advance.

I know this seems a bit early but would like to get organised and start buying ingredients over next few weeks!

So come on ladies and gents help me out!

girly, I'm putting off cleaning the house so looked up this, from Delia which looks good.

Or there's one here, from the Worldwide Gourmet - I've never heard of him/her either. (really don't want to do my cleaning!)

Or M&S have Christmas cake on special offer too at £4.99!

Wow! Thanks www, thats great! I just love the smell of xmas cake cooking. Will you make a cake too? Might have to have a few practice runs!

I have just given dd some dusting wipes and she is doing the dusting and is really enjoying herself I agree this is much better than housework! Esp if you can bribe the kids to do it for you!

I made my Christmas cake last weekend. Was tempted to do the one in Domestic Goddess where Nigella puts in cleaned £1 coins, but in the end went back to my mother's recipe, which is plain but good. If you do a search on here for 'christmas cake' you'll find a couple of old threads with some more recipes/ideas on.

I love the smell of Christmas cake cooking too!

Thanks Bettys, will check them out now.

delia on line?

This is my MIL's recipe, it's easy-peasy, you can change things a bit and it never fails. I made mine on Saturday.

CHRISTMAS CAKE - enough for two 9inch tins.

1lb Sultanas
1lb Raisins
1lb Currants
8oz Mixed peel
8oz Glace cherries
4oz Ground Almonds
12oz Dark brown sugar
12oz Butter or margarine
1lb Self raising flour
2teasp Baking powder
2teasp Mixed spice
6 Medium eggs
Wine glass of sherry/whisky/brandy or whatever you fancy!

Add the baking powder and mixed spice to the flour and also stir a spoonful or two of flour through the fruit.

Mix butter and sugar, creaming well. Add the eggs, with a spoonful of flour between each one, beating well. Add the remainder of the flour. (I do up to this bit in the food processor then turn it into a large bowl for the rest.)

Stir in almonds, peel and cherries and then the dried fruit, adding the sherry/whisky/whatever.

Leave the mixture to ripen overnight then bake in lined tins in a very slow oven (Gas mark 2) for 4 -4.5hrs. (Do not open oven for first three hours.)

And that is it!!

Leaving it overnight lessens the time needed to mature after, so you can make it very close to Xmas and it will still be ok. If you want, you can also soak the fruit beforehand in your favourite tipple but it isn't necessary.

Oooh I did Nigella 'Black cake' last year and half the mixture (fruit and brandy) is still marinating nicely in my cupboard! It should be quite potent by now!

Thanks everyone, knew you would come up trumps!

Happy baking!

Hey Crunchie what you doing on this thread? Have you fallen off the wagon? I have

I don't actually like Christmas cake much, but I love complicated recipes, hence I went for the longest in the book! And yes I have been a bit...well you know...