Christmas Cake! – Jane’s Patisserie

One of the vital iconic bakes that exists, the christmas cake… selfmade and delicious full of fruit, and soaked in brandy! 

Christmas baking

So lets the trustworthy 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 considered one of my favorite issues to do as I am keen on 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 the perfect factor to start out with on a recipe publish, however genuinely? I’m not the largest fan. Nevertheless, my household adore Christmas cake they usually haven’t any examined and tasted SO MANY CAKES so I may publish this recipe.

Christmas pudding

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

Nevertheless, for the cheats Christmas pudding I assumed concerning the individuals who, like me, typically neglect 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.

Should you don’t like Christmas cake or Christmas pudding although, and also you need an incredible showstopper, you’ll be able to attempt my different bakes comparable to my Rocky Street Christmas Pudding – that is my go to.

Christmas Cake

Christmas cake? Sure, Christmas cake. There’s quite a lot of opinions on when is greatest to make it, so its totally as much as you. Sure, it’ll work should you make it barely in a while within the yr, however it’s greatest to crack on as quickly as attainable.

I’ve at all times been instructed 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 the perfect 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 forth… simply the nearer to Christmas you make it, the much less feeding time you have got. You possibly can retailer and wrap the Christmas cake rather well after feeding in parchment paper and tin foil, in a metallic cake tin (plastic tubs might make them sweat).

The fruit

In the case of the fruit of the Christmas cake, you’ll be able to 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 take advantage of a mixture of raisins, sultanas, currants, dried cranberries, glaze cherries, and combined peel. The full weight is about 1075g value of fruits, which is so much – however you want so much for a good Christmas cake!

Should you don’t have barely the correct quantity of one thing, you need to use different fruits as nicely. You can even purchase prepared combined dried fruit for fruit desserts so should you don’t wish to purchase quite a lot of separate packets, then that’s completely high-quality.

The opposite substances

In the case of 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 comparable to combined spice, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. I additionally add a little bit of vanilla.

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

Should you don’t wish to use nuts, you need to use extra flour as an alternative of the bottom almonds. Additionally, combine by the eggs… I take advantage of 5 medium, however 4 massive eggs may even work tremendous nicely.

The alcohol

The massive a part of the Christmas cake… the alcohol you employ. You possibly can differ this to once more your choice however it’s typically a fairly robust spirit alcohol that you simply want and wish to use. I went for brandy on this recipe.

You should utilize whiskey, rum, brandy, amaretto and so forth however you’ll be able to actually simply choose your favorite, the most affordable, the nicest, and so forth… it’s totally as much as you. You combine the alcohol into the fruit at first of constructing the Christmas cake, and then you definately use it to feed the cake till you eat it.

If you need 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 method. 

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’d say it takes about half an hour to make the combination, after which its about 2 hours to bake the cake. It takes just a few hours to chill down correctly, after which it’s good to wrap the cake nicely.

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

Should 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 should 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 gentle brown comfortable 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, gentle 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 nicely.

• Alternatively, add all the substances to a big pan, convey 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 based mostly and sides nicely. You do not need any tin exhibiting as it might get caught

• Pour the combination into the lined tin, and bake for two hours. Keep watch over it in direction of the top, if its browning an excessive amount of, cowl calmly 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 executed nearer to the time
• I feed my cake each 2 weeks 
• You possibly can freeze the cake, wrapped in baking parchment after which tin foil, for 3+ months
• I take advantage of brandy, however you need to use any wealthy spirit (learn the weblog publish) 
• Attempt to retailer the cake wrapped nicely in baking parchment after which foil, in a cake tin. Sealed tubs could make it sweat. 

ENJOY!

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J x

© Jane’s Patisserie. All pictures & content material are copyright protected. Don’t use my pictures 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 publish for the recipe.