Making christmas cake - can I ask a question! fairly urgent :)

[PeckaRolloverAgain]

The method says to wrap the outside of the cake tin in newspaper

Is this necessary?? if so why!!?

Using a non stick cake tin if that helps?

paper helps stop the outside of the cake from burning before the inside is properly cooked.

You do need to do this (or double layer greaseproof) cos the cake cooks for such a long time that the top will be burned to a cinder before middle is done. Paper prebents this.

Will it not burn?

Because it is cooked for so long, the newspaper (I use brown paper but I guess the principle is the same) stops the edges from getting too 'done'.

Oooh - I forgot I had changed to a Christmas name!!

deffo do it

also cover the top with greaseproof so it doesn't burn and then remove at end

Thanks all - took your advice and it came out great

Well done - now you start the best part sampling feeding the cake with alcohol