Christmas Cake - Too Late?

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Apologies for my inability to get results from the search facility.

I am sure I have seen Christmas cake recipes on here, but they are hiding from me.

I *think* I have most of the ingredients one would require to cobble together a boozy cake - but is it too late? I expect it will be - even in the event that someone could point me towards a good recipe...pretty please.

[julesapple]

No, it's not too late. You could Google St Delia of Smith; she does a Last Minute Mincemeat Cake which is tremendous.

Last-minute Brandied Christmas Cake - Sweet - Recipes - from Delia Online

Or you could smooch with Nigella

Laws of the Kitchen: Nigella's one-pan Christmas cake

Or, my baking heroine, Mary Berry

Mary Berry

But you can make any Christmas Cake recipe, just feed it well between now and Christmas. You can marzipan and ice it on the same day (a lot of bakers like the marzipan to dry for a while before icing) or you could top it with whole nuts and glaze it with apricot jam.

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Thanks Jules. I just looked up the Canary fanciers cake recipe - I did already find a Mary B one on BBC, they are *very* similar.

I was certain there was lots of exciting cake discussion here - perhaps I dreamt it!

I will make cake. Nom nom.

[Thelma Sanders]

Do not despair - I haven't made mine yet either! - I'm too busy decorating the house atm to think about cake decoration.


I'm often to br found icing the cakes on Christmas Eve - so no probs

[SarzWix]

I use Delia's Irish Whiskey cake recipe for Christmas cake. You soak the fruit in the whiskey before you start, which negates the need for months of 'feeding' the cake. It always goes down well in the hampers I make for presents

(Recipe on Delia's website)

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Same problem here Thelma - mid renovation so time is rather limited, I have been doing a lot of plastering and taking sinks and toilets apart. The bathroom is like a building site so Christmas cake is only to be tackled when I am unable to work on that (late at night when I am not permitted to make noise).

Thanks for the updated post with recipe links jules, I'll have a good look and compare (and see what is in the cupboards. I get bonus points for using up stuff that has been hanging about ).

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

Ooh that sounds nice Sarah and she puts whiskey in the icing as well! Decisions, decisions!

[SarzWix]

The icing is fab; I use Silver Spoon's Royal Icing sugar, and just add a tablespoonful of black treacle and whiskey in place of water. I guess you could use the icing even if you made another cake.

[PyreneesPlot]

I use a Nigel Slater recipe which you feed weekly with brandy. I've not made mine yet, but looking at the recipe I see I've made a very strange note in the margin - TOO MUCH BOOZE.

I can think of no logical explanation.

[chris]

My wife just made that pumpkin cake just recently bumped - and as per that thread, I can see why someone there makes in instead of christmas cake - it's lovely!

I think we'll probably have it iced this year, as we've forgotten to make one too!

[binley100]

Not made mine yet either. I'll be soaking my fruit first and giving it a good drink afterwards. As for icing , that'll either be glace fruits or toasted nuts with an apricot and brandy glaze.....

[Bigmallly]

Am I the only one who finds xmas cake strong or bitter ?.......same with xmas pudding , yuk......give me a sponge cake anyday.

[veggiechicken]

What about mince pies BM? Are they too strong

[Bigmallly]

What about mince pies BM? Are they too strong

I love mince pies but unfortunately they don't like me.......I get bad heartburn, it must be from the fat content.

[veggiechicken]

You're not supposed to swallow them whole...............try dainty nibbles