Christmas Cake

I use my Grandmothers recipe. No alcohol and do feed it. It keeps perfectly well and is much enjoyed. I made my wedding cake with the same recipe and used one tier 2 years later when our first daughter was born. It had been in a cool place well wrapped in greaseproof paper and foil.

Bacardi is rum isn't? That will be delicious!

Love Xmas cake.

I've just taken the paper off of mine. I'm wondering if I cooked it long enough. [worry worry] I've poured plenty of whisky over it. (Yes - whisky - went for a change this year)

Mincemeat was made last weekend, Christmas cake (with plenty of brandy) will be made this weekend and Christmas pudding (also with plenty of brandy) will be made next weekend. The Christmas season has started!

My gran's recipe does not include alcohol though she might have 'fed' it.

I think I will include alcohol. We won a bottle of spiced Bacardi in a recent raffle. If that will do, I won't need to splash out on brandy.

In fact, I'll get soaking the fruit tomorrow.

Make the cake now. It is the huge quantity of dried fruits and the sugar that makes it keep. The alcohol gives it moistness and flavour.

Having said that, I do think a little alcohol sprinkled over the bottom of the cake before you wrap it, is bound to deter any mould that might happen. But if you've cooked it thoroughly this shouldn't happen anyway. Lots of recipes state orange juice or cold tea as an alternative to booze. Why don't you want to include alcohol though?

I usually make mine 6-8 weeks before Christmas. I cannot answer you regards how long it would keep without alcohol. I don't feel it would be a proper Christmas cake without the booze! My dried fruit is soaking in brandy at this very minute and I'll make the cake this weekend.