Fruitcake and Christmas cake

I've decided to take the plunge and for the first time make a fruitcake or Christmas cake this year. I know I should have started a few months ago, but I still have a few good weeks to create something boozey.

Any tips or suggestions??

I remember the rum fruitcake my dad's friend used to make every year. My mom would give us the teeniest sliver. I'd like to recreate something like that but I know I am definitely too late for that!

It's not too late to make a proper fruitcake, we make ours at the end of November every year and it allows for plenty of 'feedings' before it is served at Christmas.

There's a recent thread where people give their fruit cake recipe reccomendations that's worth a look. If you want something easy Waitrose has a Delia fruit cake mix that includes everything you need for your Christmas cake.

Cali Girl's right! It's absolutely not too late at all! (Though I don't know that I'd wait until late November.) I'm doing my cake shopping tomorrow, then will let all the fruit soak on booze and make it later in the week.

My competition is stories about cakes fed for 6-9 months, but seeing how I haven't seen any in two years I'm sure my cake will be just as delicious than one from the store. 

I have some cognac, but also wanted to try a spiced rum version.

My competition is stories about cakes fed for 6-9 months, but seeing how I haven't seen any in two years I'm sure my cake will be just as delicious than one from the store. 

6-9 months? That's dedication - or a bit of hyperbole!

We just had the last of our Christmas cake a month or two ago and didn't feed it in the interim and it was still quite tasty. 6-9 months just sounds like overkill.  But to each their own.

If you make it between now and "Stir up" Sunday you'll be in plenty of good company!

I imagine someone made it once and it became the family standard ever since! 

Interestingly enough, this is the first time I've heard of stir up Sunday and I've heard it twice this week! Funny how I still discover 'new' things after 6 years!