This hearty Christmas cake will serve between 14-21 people and will take around 3hrs to prepare and bake. You could give the cake as part of a hamper along with speciality cheeses, festive tipples or chutneys. 'When to make Christmas cake' is the question on many bakers' lips at this time of year...which gives you a big clue as to the answer. I have never made a Christmas Cake before, as the traditional fruit cake doesn't appeal hugely. To store a cooled Christmas cake, wrap it tightly in a double layer of greaseproof paper or baking parchment (parchment paper) followed by a double layer of foil and then store it in an airtight container or tin in a cool place away from direct sunlight. Use any suggested pan size and … Asked by dyl. Classic Chocolate Yule Log. No creaming, beating or soaking of fruit required! Christmas Cake Tip #9: Wrap and store your cake well. Then re-wrap in greaseproof paper, foil and then store in an airtight container. Autumn is the ideal time to get started, but you can make one at any time in the run up to Christmas. Advertisement. Our Starburst Christmas Cake and Gingerbread Men Christmas Cake are fun ideas for gifts or centrepieces. Christmas Cake Tip #3: Make more than one. Opinions on the "maturing" of Christmas cakes does vary and is partly an issue of personal taste, but for the rich fruit type of Christmas cakes we would suggest making them up to 3 months ahead of Christmas. Think about all of the sweets and drinks that come to mind this time of year: spiced nuts, peppermint candies, chocolate fudge, hot cocoa, mulled wine and eggnog. Wrap your Christmas Cake in greaseproof paper and secure it with an elastic band or string (this leaves the top open for feeding with sherry, brandy or rum every two weeks).Then, put it aside in a cool and dry area of those worktops we talked about earlier, or in an equally cool and dry cupboard or larder. I have just seen this recipe, which sounds lovely, but I am not sure if it's too late now to make it this year? Christmas Cake Tip #1: Make it well in advance of Christmas. Get family and friends involved. Making your own Christmas Cake can be easy as well as rewarding. While it's baking, avoid opening the oven door too often, as this may cause the cake to collapse. Then mix the almonds with dried fruit and brandy and let it sit overnight. This also helps it to mature and firm up, so you’ll get a rich, moist slice rather than a crumbly serving. Prepare The 3 Ingredient Christmas Cake 1 Day Ahead Step 1 – Prep The Fruit. This allows the cake to dry out a little, so the decoration will stick well and look great. Method. 12 tbsp self-elevating flour. This is usually done after the cake has been baked, but if storing for a long period we would suggest unwrapping the cake and feeding it every 4 to 6 weeks then re-wrapping it after feeding. #christmascake #fruitcake … You’ll need to start prepping this 3 ingredient Christmas cake 1 day before baking.Mix the dried fruit and … Tip into your prepared tin, level the top with a spatula and bake in the centre of the oven for 2 hrs. Grandma’s fruit cake recipe is super moist cake garnished with fruits and nuts, it the best fruit cake you can think of. You could start it as a new tradition - giving each person a particular job to do or adding a quirky finishing touch as a signature decoration each year which could even become a bit of a family heirloom. Copyright © 2020 Nigella Lawson. Some suggest 6 weeks is sufficient whereas others say that 12 weeks is optimum. Giving it a good amount of time to firm up will also improve its flavour and appearance when the time comes to slice your cake - if you eat your Christmas Cake too soon after baking it, you'll find that it crumbles. As you know, a lot of material is required […] We recommend that you Marzipan the cake a week before you ice it. Soak the dried cranberries within the Auchentoshan American Oak for a quarter-hour. It is traditionally made a whole two months before Christmas, allowing ample time for the baker to “feed” the cake with brandy or whiskey at regular intervals to keep it moist. Find all our Christmas Cake recipes and buy your ingredients online >>, 6 ways to 'smash it' with strawberry desserts this weekend, The coolest homemade lollies you'll make this summer, Here's a generous measure of summer ginspiration, Introducing our Christmas Food To Order range, and secure it with an elastic band or string (this leaves the top open for feeding with, every two weeks).Then, put it aside in a cool and dry area of those worktops we talked about earlier, or in an equally cool and dry cupboard or larder. Once you’ve made your cake, you can make it taste as Christmassy as possible by ‘feeding’ (adding a drizzle/rub of sherry, rum or brandy to it) it at regular intervals. This iced Christmas Cake is a great option for those who want to serve up their seasonal slice with a touch more festive decoration - great as a centrepiece for those Christmas parties. Then follow these easy steps to get your homemade cake ready for Christmas. 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