Making Christmas cake/pudding

[TeaAndCakeFTW]

I think I'm going to try to make my own Christmas cake or Christmas pudding this year.

I'm not a baker, I've never made one before, does anyone have any best practice/tips/recipes/where to start please?

I use Nigella's recipes every year. I have even converted those who hate the stuff with her recipes. Including myself!!

I’ve used Delia’s classic Christmas cake recipe for decades and everyone loves it, to the extent I make extra to give as gifts!

Once you've chosen a recipe (I usually used Delia) pile all the fruit into a bowl or tub with the alcohol. Shove it in a corner to soak until you're ready to make and bake the cake. It can be left for several days/weeks.

The cake can be in the oven for several hours so make it when you have time to do this.

Agree with this. Delia all the way. If you’re not a baker, borrow as much of the equipment as you can. Those of us that bake regularly will have all the stuff, but it’s only used about 1% of the time. My v large cake tins are used only a couple of times a year.
My tips are:
always rinse the cherries
don't use a cake liner, line the base and sides separately (just seems to make a better bake for me)
weigh out all the dry ingredients when it’s quiet / calm and you feel like it. You can then make the cake within the next week or so. That way you can take your time and get in anything you’ve suddenly realised you’re missing.
If you don’t enjoy decorating (I don’t!), but a beautiful cake topper or some icing decorations and just spend your time getting a nice smooth finish on the marzipan and icing.
It is very satisfying to make your own Christmas cake. I hope you enjoy it!

Don't be tempted by the ready to use packs of mixed dried fruit. Full of unnecessary extras like oil. Just buy the normal bags. Aldi have lots in at the moment - nuts, glacé cherries, mixed peel, rains, sultanas, currents, apricots, prunes etc.

If you don't like marzipan and icing, top the cake with a pretty pattern of nuts and fruit, stuck on and glazed with warmed and sieved apricot jam.

Delia or Mary Berry. It's very simple, no need to stress over it. Enjoy!

I love marzipan!

Thanks all, I will have a look at Nigella, Delia and Mary Berry and decide on a recipe.

I'll then start buying a few bits each week, over the next few weeks - the fruit is really expensive isn't it? - then be ready to start it in time.

How far in advance should I start? Do I need to feed it for weeks?

I'm going to put rum in it probably.

This is easy af and has become a family favourite: https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipes/4-ingredient-baileys-condensed-milk-fruit-cake-recipe/hwrv6qad

Delia all the way :) You can make it any time from now onwards and feed it booze every week, the earlier you make it the better it will be, enjoy!

You can also vary the dried fruits elements as long as you keep the weights the same. We mix it up according to what we fancy/what we have available. It always ends up delicious.

Might give this a go!

Delia for me - Nigella never worked well. If you don’t want to go the whole hog, try an Dundee cake.

When making your pudding, normal instructions are to put it into a pot, half fill with boiling water and boil for four hours or whatever. Do not allow to boil dry.

If you have a slow cooker that fits your pudding bowl, pop it onto a power point in a spare corner somewhere, pudding in, boiling water in, lid on and leave on high for 6-8 hours. If you can do this, you will save so much stress. Also, on Christmas morning, heat up the same way. Easy peasy.

We love a pudding and this is such a good tip! Almost worth getting a slow cooker just for that tbh!

@MassiveOvaryaction I see your four ingredients and reduce you by one

https://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipes/3-ingredient-fruit-cake-recipe/zkyd2qhg

I make Nigella's Christmas pudding every year. It's so easy. All Christmas puddings should be made on Stir-Up Sunday which this year is 24 November. I will start the fruit soaking a week before on 17 November.

@thebigL Slow cookers are good for a few things.

Christmas pudding, beetroot, quince, starting your marmalade, oranges for orange and almond cake. Anything that needs to cook for a good while and needs a bit of supervision, too.

Oh even better as we make marmalade every year! I've had one before but didn't really like the food it served up (I didn't make any effort to learn how best to adapt recipes, tbf) so I got rid of it. But recently I've been thinking I'd like to have DH's porridge cook overnight so I was already considering getting one.

@thebigL It is good for porridge and also rice pudding.

I’m just thinking that if you had a big slow cooker, a bread and butter pudding in a dish would be good. Just flash under a grill at the end and good to go.

I’m not a fan of meals in it myself, either. Perhaps for keeping something warm sometimes but I’ve never had occasion to try it.

@TeaAndCakeFTW sorry for the sidebar conversation.

Nigella here. Always make it on the last Sunday of half term, and everyone has to stir it while making a wish (and the wishes can be VERY long and convoluted). Then feed every week or two with sherry, brandy or rum depending on what vibe I'm in that year. Might be sherry this year.

A nice thing to add is whole (rather than chopped) walnut halves or almonds - they go soft enough during the soaking/cooking to cut with the slices and look fantastic as well as being delicious.

I've just put my cake fruit to soak. Delia's no Mary Berry when it comes to the alcohol quantity. 3 tablespoons! I added 6 then poured straight from the bottle!

Oh yes! I should have mentioned that! I just slosh it around and add loads. I put mine in to soak last night, and am baking the cake tomorrow.

I thought mine was minimalist

Have you tried this one @TheSandgroper ?