Christmas Cake! – Jane’s Patisserie

One of the vital iconic bakes that exists, the christmas cake… selfmade and delicious crammed with 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 certainly one of 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 the perfect factor to start out with on a recipe submit, however genuinely? I’m not the most important fan. Nonetheless, my household adore Christmas cake and so they 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 ebook, as usually with bakes like this you might want to take your time. They’re recipes that develop over the time due to the alcohol that you simply put into the bake.

Nonetheless, for the cheats Christmas pudding I assumed in regards to the individuals who, like me, typically neglect to create a bake like these inside the time-frame. This Christmas cake recipe nonetheless?! Oh that’s the alternative. I’m bang on the proper 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 strive my different bakes comparable to my Rocky Street Christmas Pudding – that is my go to.

Christmas Cake

Christmas cake? Sure, Christmas cake. There’s a variety of opinions on when is greatest to make it, so its fully as much as you. Sure, it should work if you happen to make it barely in a while within the 12 months, but it surely’s greatest to crack on as quickly as attainable.

I’ve all the time been informed 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 on… simply the nearer to Christmas you make it, the much less feeding time you might have. You’ll be able to retailer and wrap the Christmas cake very well after feeding in parchment paper and tin foil, in a metallic cake tin (plastic tubs might make them sweat).

The fruit

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

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

Should you don’t have barely the correct quantity of one thing, you should use different fruits as effectively. You can too purchase prepared combined dried fruit for fruit desserts so if you happen to don’t need to purchase a variety of separate packets, then that’s completely advantageous.

The opposite components

With regards to the remainder of the components, 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 effectively. The sugar is mild brown smooth sugar, and I take advantage of some black treacle (you should use golden syrup). The flour is normal, I take advantage of self elevating as a substitute of plain flour and baking powder, and a few floor almonds.

Should you don’t need to use nuts, you should use extra flour as a substitute of the bottom almonds. Additionally, combine by means of the eggs… I take advantage of 5 medium, however 4 massive eggs can even work tremendous effectively.

The alcohol

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

You need to use whiskey, rum, brandy, amaretto and so on however you’ll be able to truthfully simply decide your favorite, the most affordable, the nicest, and so on… it’s fully as much as you. You combine the alcohol into the fruit firstly of constructing the Christmas cake, and then you definately 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 a substitute.). Brew the tea to an identical quantity and soak the fruit in the identical manner. 

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 unhealthy 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 a number of hours to chill down correctly, after which you might want to wrap the cake effectively.

I prefer to feed my cake with a number 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.

Should you make your cake nearer to Christmas, that’s completely okay. You actually don’t have to make it 12 weeks earlier than, so don’t stress if you happen to 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 smooth 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 all the components to a big pan, carry 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 effectively. You don’t need any tin exhibiting as it could get caught

• Pour the combination into the lined tin, and bake for two hours. Control it in the direction of the top, 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 utterly.

• 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 carried out 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 take advantage of brandy, however you should 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!

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J x

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