My cake fell apart!

[monkeytennismum]

Apologies for the blatant first world problem, but I've had an Xmas cake disaster. Cake been cooking all day, I had to take DC to a party so asked someone else to take cake out of oven at correct time, leave to cool for a while then remove from tin to cool on a rack. Santa's little helper did as was asked, but unwittingly removed greaseproof wrapping as well, so by the time I got home the cake was slowly spreading under its own weight. I desperately tried to salvage the cake by putting it back in its wrapping and tin, but it all fell to pieces as I was doing this. I am GUTTED

Said 'cake' is currently in the tin with with a plate and weight on top in the hope that it will fuse back together overnight. Does anyone have any experience of this, and/or words of wisdom? Do you think my plan will work?

Yes! add lots and lots of brandy in coming months and cover with a veritable blanket of marzipan.

I don't think pressure alone will fuse the cake back together.

I have on occasion used cake as an ingredient for cake iyswim. This was with a sponge cake which failed (don't remember what was wrong with it) and I rendered it down into crumbs then added a little more of everything (eggs, sugar, flour, fat) to make a new and larger volume of batter, then cooked it. It actually worked really well - so nice I would consider deliberately making a "twice baked" cake again on purpose. You could try something like this?

Alternative, heat it up in portions in the microwave and have it for pud with custard. Then make another Christmas Cake when YOU are able to have complete control.

Yes, if it refuses to behave, stir it all together with a splash of brandy and pack it tightly in a plastic box.

Leave in a cool place to mature and set for a week or two and eat on cold autumn evenings with custard.

Make some into ice cream for when you want something light but still xmassy,
Mix some with choc icing and make into balls. Freeze then cover in chocolate. Chill the add a small amount of white choc to top then a tinny holly sprinkle. Mini Xmas pud balls.

Thanks for all your advice! Cake seemed to have gelled together a bit this morning (it's a moist recipe) so I've poured some brandy on, wrapped it in foil and will have a peek in a week to see how it is.

I LOVE the sound of that ice cream, Brie