Oops, forgot to make my Christmas cake!

[AliasGrape]

Completely forgot this year, there’s been a lot going on.

Wont get chance to do anything now till next weekend and not sure if it’s still worth doing the traditional one then (I usually do it sort of mid October ish but aware there are some that consider even that too late!)

Does anyone else make there’s later and it still comes out ok?

Any recommendations for either -

• the best shop bought version
• a still Christmassy alternative that I can make later on, even just before

im a bit sad because it’s kind of a tradition that I always make it, but also strongly feeling ‘can’t be arsed’ vibes this year!

I do both on the same day, always have...

I tried the Australian Baileys /condensed milk recipe recently and can confirm it is delicious. It actually becomes more moist the longer it's left.

But not too late to make a traditional cake.

I haven't made mine yet - usually about 2wks before - but then I don't lace it with booze though

The boiled cake suggestions by @marylou25 and @lavenderlou are bang on.

I have a friend who taught baking and patisserie at a catering college and this was her preferred method. I have used it for decades and it’s just delicious.

It’s easy and as long as you’ve made it a week before Christmas you’ll be fine.

@AliasGrape honestly, the best time to make a cake, any cake, is before you want to eat it. She’ll be fine.

Just make it and feed it I've never done mine before the first week in December it's still better than the shops. If you've got the fruit start soaking it now.

For the last decade, I've always made that Simmer and Stir BBC one (before that, I used Delia Classic). A couple of times, I've baked the BBC one only about a week before, and it was perfect and lovely. It's so easy, and also quite forgiving: I use a bigger tin and scale it up by 33%, but last year forgot to add an extra egg, yet it was still moist and delicious.