Make ahead cake for Xmas that isn't Xmas cake

[Mumdiva99]

Hi, I am entertaining at Christmas and would like to make a cake to serve but possibly not an actual Christmas cake. (Because they are so large and delicious I finish it all myself before new year!!)

Is there something else I can make around beginning of November, will feel quite luxurious, doesn't compete with other family members Xmas cakes and bonus points if it can be gluten free....but not essential as I can do something else too.

I remember buying Australian Christmas cake a few years which was very fruit rich....maybe something like that....or I saw prunes mentioned in another thread they might be nice or something with pineapple....

I live in Australia and our Christmas cakes are just like UK Christmas cakes...

We do a sort of weird roll thing with nuts but that's not especially festive. I don't know of any cake that's an advance one which ticks your boxes.

Why don't you just make a Christmas cake? Or make a few smaller ones and keep one for yourself? Rather than having a massive one at home.

If it’s just a few days in advance I’d suggest Nigella’s clementine cake. But only a fruit cake would keep for nearly two months.

@fortunesfave no idea what I got then. It was from Tesco and called Australian Christmas Cake....bit only about an inch thick. More similar to panaforte but not like that....more fruity.

@karmakameleon I want to cook ahead as we have birthdays in December - my neice is 23rd Dec my son is 24th Dec....so it gets frantic around that week. My daughter earlier in Dec etc!

Lots of cakes freeze well so if you just want to cook ahead because of practicalities you could make any lovely cake and bung in the freezer until Christmas.

@trashkitten10 despite my age I have never cooked and frozen a cake before. Lol. What would defrost well and not go soggy? That could be an option.

I was going to make delias mincemeat apple strudel this year.... not a cake

But she says it freezes very well

You could actually just make fruit cake fairy cakes. If you Google you'll get a recipe. I did it one year and was much faster to make and perfect portion sizes!

Sponge cakes freeze well - you could make a couple of sponges or a roulade and then just decorate with fresh cream or buttercream on the day?

I love apple strudel....and may look that up. But we will have desert too....then cake later before they leave.

I'll look up fairy cake fruit cakes. Thanks.

My kids don't really like butter cream so that's not an option. (Nor do they like fondant icing either). Cream they will eat of sweetened!!

cupcakes

Well I just mean like small miniature versions of a fruit cake and then I think most kids like icing sugar/water mix.
Omg I have baby brain and have totally forgotten what that's called

It was something like this I made.
www.taste.com.au/recipes/christmas-cupcakes/192d40e7-1bba-44d8-9633-988c911604b6
Different icing for your kids preference :)

[quote Mumdiva99]@trashkitten10 despite my age I have never cooked and frozen a cake before. Lol. What would defrost well and not go soggy? That could be an option.[/quote]
I have frozen a lemon drizzle, brownies and carrot cake successfully but I think most unfilled cakes do very well in the freezer.

If buttercream is out then carrot cake with cream cheese frosting would be nice and fitting with a bit of Christmassy spice, or look for another 'festive' freezable sponge, such as a gingerbread cake.

For something less traditionally festive maybe a lovely chocolate cake and then fill with ganache once defrosted.

Who doesn't love carrot cake with cream cheese icing....mmmm. my favourite. Maybe that would be good and feel xmasy.

@luckytattie icing sugar and water = icing. Well in this house anyway.

I've made and frozen a few different spong cakes, they've all worked well. Wrap well in cling film once cold, defrost at room temp and decorated as you wish. I'm sure sweetened whipped cream would work well too.

Brownies freeze very well too! And cookie dough too, just cook that from frozen. And that's why I'm overweight, I'm always just 20 minutes from my favourite home baked treats!

@Mumdiva99

Who doesn't love carrot cake with cream cheese icing....mmmm. my favourite. Maybe that would be good and feel xmasy.

Oh god yes, sooo good

[quote Mumdiva99]@luckytattie icing sugar and water = icing. Well in this house anyway.[/quote]
Yes

Cookie dough is a great idea.....if I make extra we can have it with ice cream.....
And a freshly baked cookie always goes down well.

Tunis cake - I think Mary Berry has a recipe. It used to be a big seasonal thing apparently.

Well that might be impressive. And got to love marzipan and chocolate.

The festive fruit and nut (aka Stained Glass Window cake) will probably work gf if you add a bit of xanthan and perhaps some almond meal in your flour allowance. Cut it fairly thinly and it is just like a stained glass window.

The cherry and almond is a lovely Christmas combination but might need freezing.

I forgot to say that these are all Australian recipes, as per your memory.

@thesandgroper I want to try all of these. I particularly love the skill required for the one where I just heat all the fruit and sugar then add everything else then bake....that's my type of recipe.