How long will Christmas cake last?

[MrsBeltane]

I made a Christmas cake for MIL at the beginning of December. With the restrictions we haven't been able to visit her.

How long do you think the cake will last? It's got a layer of marzipan on it, but not iced. It's been kept in an airtight container. Sadly it has no alcohol as she's is very staunchly teetotal.

A long time. I always make Christmas cake at the end of the summer ( maybe even July if I feel like it) and then feed it with brandy every week and then ice around mid December. And usually it’s still around for a slice or two in January.

It’s not dissimilar to a traditional wedding cake - 3 tiers and it was customary to keep the bottom tier for the future baby’s christening. It’s essentially sugar and dried fruit so the sugar is a preservative bound together with the other ingredients.

You can always freeze it to be extra safe but it will dry it out. I would just leave it.

A very long time. Don’t fret at all.

Is there alcohol in it?

Xmas cake is one of those foods you can leave in your will, it is not that uncommon to bake one in December for the year after.

@BikeRunSki

Is there alcohol in it?

Sadly it has no alcohol as she's is very staunchly teetotal

In the OP.

They just found a 100 year old fruit cake from an arctic expedition that was still edible, yours will be fine until next Christmas, or the Christmas after that!

Not long!!!!!One of my favourites. I do make fruit cakes at least 3 months ahead. Also have you thought about freezing it. I have done this in the past without problems.( Unfortunately you may have to remove the marzipan and eat it) I am joking marzipan freezes as well but any excuse and I will eat it.

Bloody ages.

Months. I made mine in October. Haven't even started it yet.

Thanks everyone. I think I'm going to ice it, package it up and send it to her. It isn't too much to send it with Hermes.
The temptation to eat it is providing hard to avoid!