Christmas Cake

Lets talk about Christmas Cake

Yeah, I know its too early to talk about Christmas, but the cakes need to be made soon so they can get all boozy! I am a big fan of the marzipan-sweet icing kind!

I absolutely love Christmas cake and normally I buy it (mmm, Mark's and Spencer's)- but I think I want to try my hand at it...
 
I have a Nigella Christmas book and have just ordered a Delia Smith one, but just wondering if anyone has any favourite recipes? 

I tend to change my mind about recipes but always make sure to soak the fruit overnight in a little warm water and brandy (or whisky if you prefer) before you prepare the cake.  You will have to drain and dry on a kitchen towl but it means the cake is lovely and moist.

Oh! I'm glad you posted this. I want to make a Christmas cake (marzipan and icing kind) for dh this year, but have no idea where to start.

Haven't made Christmas cake in years. I had a great recipe that was sugar-free (used mushed up dates instead) Unfortunately, DH can't eat the fruit and nuts anymore. Thinking about a cranberry version perhaps (?)

It's definitely not too early!! I'll be making my cake next week! I use my grandmother's recipe which is just a basic traditional Christmas cake - very similar to Delia's. You can never go wrong with Delia for things like this. I generally really like creative and imaginative recipes, but for something as traditional as a Christmas cake, I'd always stick with something really basic. You don't mess about with Christmas! 

It's definitely not too early!! I'll be making my cake next week! I use my grandmother's recipe which is just a basic traditional Christmas cake - very similar to Delia's. You can never go wrong with Delia for things like this. I generally really like creative and imaginative recipes, but for something as traditional as a Christmas cake, I'd always stick with something really basic. You don't mess about with Christmas!  

Totally off-topic (although my MIL makes an EXCELLENT Christmas cake), but my mom would try, every few years, to "re-do" our Thanksgiving menu. You've never seen or heard such protests.  It finally turned into a family joke that Mom was "trying to ruin Thanksgiving". Poor woman, I imagine she just wanted to try something new. Not that we would ever, ever let her.

DW makes the one out of the Nigella book, can be just made close to the date....has chocolate in it as well....it's delicious. I make the mince pies the weekend before.

DW makes the one out of the Nigella book, can be just made close to the date....has chocolate in it as well....it's delicious. I make the mince pies the weekend before.

This is why I'm not really a Nigella fan. I like the woman, but I don't think her recipes are always well thought-out. A proper Christmas cake needs to be "fed" and shouldn't be done close to the date.

We've had the Delia Christmas Cake for the last two years running. Very nice. I also reccomend Nigel Slater's Christmas Pudding - it is amazing (if expensive to make!!).

We make the pudding and cake on Stir up Sunday, which is the last Sunday before advent (20/11 this year). So you have plenty of time to make it.

Whatever one you make - be sure to have it with Wensleydale cheese - it's the best way forward!!! 

I like the idea of Christmas cake and the way it smells, but I hate hate hate hate HATE both raisins and sultanas.  It's weird because I love all other kinds of dried fruit, but something about dried grapes I can't stand.  Is it complete blasphemy to make Christmas cake without raisins or sultanas?  If not, I'm definitely up for trying to make one!

I like the idea of Christmas cake and the way it smells, but I hate hate hate hate HATE both raisins and sultanas.  It's weird because I love all other kinds of dried fruit, but something about dried grapes I can't stand.  Is it complete blasphemy to make Christmas cake without raisins or sultanas?  If not, I'm definitely up for trying to make one!

Why not? There are plenty of other dried fruits that can go in it.

Whatever one you make - be sure to have it with Wensleydale cheese - it's the best way forward!!! 

Ooooh! I wouldn't have it any other way.

I've never had cheese with Christmas cake, that sounds interesting!

I love to bake, but I can't muster up any enthusiasm to make a Christmas cake.  When I first started working here one of my volunteers who was a bossy woman of retirement age asked me sternly, "Have you started on your Christmas cakes?" as if I'd be lazy and naughty for not baking them.  I said "no" and she offered to give me her recipe which I turned down as politely as I could.