Christmas Cake! – Jane’s Patisserie

One of the iconic bakes that exists, the christmas cake… do-it-yourself and delicious full of fruit, and soaked in brandy! 

Christmas baking

So lets the sincere now, I’m mentioning Christmas in… September. I do know, it’s extraordinarily overkill, however when you realise that is a few Christmas Cake hopefully you’ll perceive why!

Christmas baking is one in all my favorite issues to do as I like the theming of Christmas, however this recipe is one thing that has been ready for years and years, as I simply don’t actually like Christmas cake… yup.

So, I do know that’s not one of the best factor to begin with on a recipe submit, however genuinely? I’m not the most important fan. Nevertheless, my household adore Christmas cake they usually haven’t any examined and tasted SO MANY CAKES so I might submit this recipe.

Christmas pudding

I’ve a cheats Christmas pudding in my second e-book, as sometimes with bakes like this you’ll want to take your time. They’re recipes that develop over the time due to the alcohol that you just put into the bake.

Nevertheless, for the cheats Christmas pudding I assumed concerning the individuals who, like me, usually overlook to create a bake like these inside the time-frame. This Christmas cake recipe nevertheless?! Oh that’s the other. I’m bang on the right time for this magnificence.

In the event you don’t like Christmas cake or Christmas pudding although, and also you need a tremendous showstopper, you may attempt my different bakes akin to my Rocky Street Christmas Pudding – that is my go to.

Christmas Cake

Christmas cake? Sure, Christmas cake. There’s a number of opinions on when is greatest to make it, so its completely as much as you. Sure, it should work in case you make it barely in a while within the yr, nevertheless it’s greatest to crack on as quickly as potential.

I’ve at all times been advised whether or not its from the notes in my Granny’s baking bible, or simply by phrase of mouth, that 12 weeks earlier than Christmas is one of the best time to create a Christmas cake. And guess what, it’s 12 weeks now.

You are able to do it 10 weeks earlier than, 8 weeks, 6 weeks and so on… simply the nearer to Christmas you make it, the much less feeding time you could have. You’ll be able to retailer and wrap the Christmas cake very well after feeding in parchment paper and tin foil, in a steel cake tin (plastic tubs might make them sweat).

The fruit

With regards to the fruit of the Christmas cake, you may cater it extra to what you favor, however I used a broader quantity as that’s what works greatest for my trusty style testers, because it offers extra flavour and textures.

I exploit a mixture of raisins, sultanas, currants, dried cranberries, glaze cherries, and combined peel. The entire weight is about 1075g value of fruits, which is quite a bit – however you want quite a bit for a good Christmas cake!

In the event you don’t have barely the correct quantity of one thing, you need to use different fruits as effectively. It’s also possible to purchase prepared combined dried fruit for fruit muffins so in case you don’t need to purchase a number of separate packets, then that’s completely positive.

The opposite substances

With regards to the remainder of the substances, it does sound like fairly a bit. I like so as to add the zest and juice of lemon for a zingy flavour, in addition to flavours akin to combined spice, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. I additionally add a little bit of vanilla.

The butter is essential, however I soften it into the fruity combination in order that it melts down effectively. The sugar is mild brown mushy sugar, and I exploit some black treacle (you need to use golden syrup). The flour is commonplace, I exploit self elevating as an alternative of plain flour and baking powder, and a few floor almonds.

In the event you don’t need to use nuts, you need to use extra flour as an alternative of the bottom almonds. Additionally, combine by the eggs… I exploit 5 medium, however 4 giant eggs may even work tremendous effectively.

The alcohol

The large a part of the Christmas cake… the alcohol you utilize. You’ll be able to range this to once more your desire nevertheless it’s usually a fairly sturdy spirit alcohol that you just want and need to use. I went for brandy on this recipe.

You should utilize whiskey, rum, brandy, amaretto and so on however you may truthfully simply choose your favorite, the most affordable, the nicest, and so on… it’s completely as much as you. You combine the alcohol into the fruit at first of constructing the Christmas cake, and you then use it to feed the cake till you eat it.

If you’d like an alcohol free cake, I have a tendency to make use of tea to soak the fruit (however lots of people use apple juice as an alternative.). Brew the tea to the same amount and soak the fruit in the identical approach. 

Timings

So for me, the height time to create a cake like that is 12 weeks earlier than you need it. It takes a good few hours to make on the primary day, as a result of the bake time is so lengthy, however after that it’s not that dangerous in any respect.

I might say it takes about half an hour to make the combination, after which its about 2 hours to bake the cake. It takes a couple of hours to chill down correctly, after which you’ll want to wrap the cake effectively.

I wish to feed my cake with a couple of tablespoons of brandy each two weeks up till Christmas. If you wish to adorn your Christmas cake, you do not need to feed it simply earlier than as it should make it moist and sticky so barely annoying.

In the event you make your cake nearer to Christmas, that’s completely okay. You actually don’t must make it 12 weeks earlier than, so don’t stress in case you can’t make it this week.

• 200 g raisins
• 200 g sultanas
• 200 g currants
• 200 g dried cranberries
• 200 g glace cherries
• 75 g combined peel
• zest of 2 lemons
• juice of 2 lemons
• 175 ml alcohol (I used brandy)
• 250 g unsalted butter
• 200 g mild brown mushy sugar
• 50 g treacle
• 200 g self elevating flour
• 100 g floor almonds
• 2 tsp combined spice
• 1 tsp floor ginger
• 1 tsp floor cinnamon
• 1 tsp floor nutmeg
• 5 medium eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

• Add the raisins, sultanas, currants, dried cranberries, glacé cherries, combined peel, lemon zest, lemon juice, brandy, butter, mild brown sugar and treacle to a big bowl

• Combine these collectively, after which warmth within the microwave for five minutes on excessive, letting the butter soften, and stir collectively effectively.

• Alternatively, add the entire substances to a big pan, deliver to the boil, and simmer for 10 minutes.

• Go away the combination to chill for half-hour. Throughout this time, preheat the oven to 150ºc/130ºc fan

• As soon as cooled, add the self elevating flour, floor almonds, combined spice, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, eggs and vanilla to the bowl and blend till mixed

• Pour right into a deep 8″ cake tin that’s lined on the primarily based and sides effectively. You don’t need any tin displaying as it could get caught

• Pour the combination into the lined tin, and bake for two hours. Keep watch over it in direction of the tip, if its browning an excessive amount of, cowl frivolously with foil

• As soon as baked, take away from the oven and prick with a fork. Spoon over 2-3 extra brandy and funky fully.

• As soon as cooled, wrap in clear baking parchment, and foil, and retailer for two weeks and feed with 2-3 extra tbsps of brandy. Repeat each two weeks till Christmas.

• I make my Christmas cake 12 weeks earlier than Christmas, however it may be completed nearer to the time
• I feed my cake each 2 weeks 
• You’ll be able to freeze the cake, wrapped in baking parchment after which tin foil, for 3+ months
• I exploit brandy, however you need to use any wealthy spirit (learn the weblog submit) 
• Attempt to retailer the cake wrapped effectively in baking parchment after which foil, in a cake tin. Sealed tubs could make it sweat. 

ENJOY!

Discover my different recipes on my Recipes Web page!

Yow will discover me on:
Instagram
Fb
Pinterest
Twitter
Youtube

J x

© Jane’s Patisserie. All photos & content material are copyright protected. Don’t use my photos with out prior permission. If you wish to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your individual phrases and credit score me, or hyperlink again to this submit for the recipe.