Making Christmas cake, need some help with the tin please

[grinningbee]

Hi all!

I'm cheating as this is my first go at Xmas cake, and have bought the Sainsbury's cake in a bag to do (please don't hate me!). It says you need an 8" tin, but the one I have is 9". Is it going to make much of a difference? Should I be baking it for any less, or any longer?

Any help gratefully received, although I can't promise a slice of the cake

I know I'm late doing it too... must be more organised next year.

:)
At least you're making one, think I'll end up buying one :-/ (no time/no sleep/8 month baby!)

I'm no cake expert but I think you might need to bake for a slightly shorter time as with the 9 inch tin the batter will be spread slightly thinner. Or you could turn down the oven slightly to avoid burning. Wouldn't worry too much as long as you keep a close eye on it towards the end of baking.

Good luck!

I know the feeling, I have a non-sleeping 1 year old, and a 2 year old who will want to help bless her!

Anyone else have any ideas?

It'll be about 20% shallower. Reduce the cooking time a little, but the most important thing is to wrap it for cooking, it to prevent drying out, and then testing it before you turn the oven off after cooking incase it needs to go back in. The secret to cooking rich fruit cakes is "Long & Low". Don't hurry it. Much better for a longer time at a lower temperature.

If you double line the side and bottom of the tin with greaseproof paper and then wrap the outside of it with a double layer of brown paper that is about 6" taller than the tin it will help prevent the outside from burning or drying out.

Like SHD says, go for long and low - 140 degrees in a non-fan oven or 120 degrees in a fan. You'll know when it's cooked if you listen to it when it comes out of the oven. If it's making a bubbling noise then it isn't cooked - you ant it to be silent.

Also, to stop it being too dry, mix up 2tbsp brandy/rum with 1tbsp hot water and 1tbsp glycerine, and as soon as it comes out of the oven poke holes all over the cake and drizzle the mixture all over it then leave it to cool in the tin.