First Time Christmas Cake maker

[Onlyonce]

So I want to have a go at doing a Christmas cake myself

How far in advance do I need to make it and have you any recommended and fool proof recipes for me?

I usually make mine sometime in late October/early November, and use the recipe in the River cottage cake book.

For any recipe you can use whatever mix of dried fruit you have to hand, as long as the weight is correct, and pre-soaking makes a big difference.

Already made mine, James martins make and mature cake is fabulous, dead easy and so moist, I feed it with rum every 2weeks until Christmas. This is the 3rd year I've made it and am going to make a second one next week as last years disappeared so quickly.

Planning on making mine in early October, then feeding it weekly until Christmas. I use the Delia Smith recipe - never known to fail!

Always use Delia's recipe, it's been brilliant.

I even made her Creole Christmas cake last year, it was lovely.

Buy good fruit, and pre soak it with far more liquid than it says in the recipe and for a few days. If you put nice plump fruit into the cake it will be far better than feeding it later.

I also had great success last year with the Lidl pre soaked fruit which was very nice and a good price - I used it for the cakes I make for charity hampers

Hmm, I struggled with Delia's recipe - it burned in the end! Watching with interest.

Does anyone have a good online recipe?

I'd like to try for first time too op

Thanks for the advice everyone. If you have any more tips so I can avoid festive disaster please let me know!

I do Delia's recipe. My recipe book is about thirty years old, so the cooking times and temperatures didn't take into account fan ovens. I cook on a lower heat and for a shorter time

I do the pink whisk recipe. 950g of fruit. Soak for weeks, cook very low. Really good.

I've made this gingery Christmas cake a few times, it's a bit lighter than usual and has ginger wine in which I lovewww.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/4825/gingery-christmas-cake!

Mmmm I feel tempted to try one this year!

Any fail safe recipes? Do I buy dried fruit and soak or fresh fruit and soak?

Is rum or brandy best to use?

Can't give you the recipe,sorry! soak the fruit for at least 24 hours in either tea or brandy, that really makes a difference.
wrap the outside of the cake tin in a double layer of greaseproof or silicone paper, taller than the cake tin - evens the cooking out, and stops the outside of the cake drying out while the centre is still cooking

I'm a first time Christmas cake maker too, and used Mary Berry's recipe which I found online

Bake went ok... hopefully it'll taste good!

I found that Delia's Christmas cake baked far sooner than she says. I use the correct heat but the trouble can arise if you take her advice and "don't peek"if .. ..