Christmas Cake - have you cut into yours?

I too used Mary Berry's recipe, left it quite late to make it, around mid-November, and kept feeding it with brandy 2 or 3 times a week instead of once, playing catch-up. The result, as we discovered late yesterday afternoon, was a wonderfully boozy cake, very moist and tasty. Only disappointment was the royal icing, because for once I added glycerin. God knows why, because I much prefer an icing that dries crisp instead of soft

I used this Mary Berry recipe:
www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/classic_christmas_cake_04076
I cut the first piece out late Boxing Day night to have with my bedtime hot drink and it was delicious. We both had a slice with a cup of tea this afternoon. My DH said he thought it was rather sweet, but that could be because I used golden syrup instead of treacle.
I had a bag of brandy-soaked dried fruit that I bought in Lidl a while ago so I used that. I didn't make it until last Wednesday so it didn't have any extra booze, but it was lovely and moist.

I'm with Lovetopaint037 i used Lidl brandy soaked fruit and Delias recipe its delicious!

I usually do the delia one but time not being on my side bought a one from M&S which is lovely but hubby complained about me not making one very politely of course. Otherwise he’d of been wearing the M&S one! ??

Greyduster is that the James Martin Christmas Cake recipe with malt whiskey?

Sloegin the decoration of your cake is very pretty. Are the holly leaves edible?

Cant bake, won’t bake.

I bought this very nice looking Dundee cake from Waitrose. Off to the kitchen now for a slice and a .

I made a largish one as DH loves it and likes it to last a long time. It’s not great! Icing too thick and a dryish cake. Won’t bother next year. I will buy one. ?

Cut mine today, beautifully sticky and very boozy.I use a very old Mary Berry recipe which was printed in a mag called Home and Freezer digest.Inever follow it exactly,I buy all mixed fruit and just add up how much fruit,nuts,cherries etc. I plonk a whole bottle of sherry in a large bowl and leave all the fruit to soak for at least a week,never had a bad cake ever.

Like Parsley3, I (and I use the term loosely because DH claims it is almost wholly his creation!?) used James Martin’s recipe. Very easy, very moist and absolutely delicious. The best we’ve had since I lost my dear late sister’s recipe.

I always make one every year ,have used the same recipe for 50 years, can’t remember where I got the recipe from.

Last year I made Delia Smith's Last Minute Christmas Cake from her "Christmas" book - full of fruit and booze, it was abshlutly delisshus! This year I've made a proper old-fashioned Dundee Cake (a Mary Berry recipe) and again it was really good, but alcohol-free ...

I haven't made a cake for this Christmas because I had no idea how or if I would be celebrating. But, in the past, I have always found Delia's recipe to be infallible. A few years ago, when DS2 came to fetch me, the tin containing the cake was left behind in my kitchen. When I returned, I wrapped it well and put it in the freezer until the next year when,I'm glad to report, it was as good as new - if not better!

I use Good Housekeeping recipe but soak the fruit in sherry for 24 hours before baking. Feed with brandy 3 or 4 times when storing before topping with home made almond paste. We don't like white icing so don't ice with it.

My mum told me she sent cake by post to my brother when he did National Service in Koala Lumpur many years ago. I don’t think it was edible by the time he got it unfortunately.

My son makes ours from my mother’s recipe. This year he sent us all large chunks by post.

I have never made a Christmas cake.

I have PM’d you thanks grandMattie.

I use an Australian Woman’s Weekly boiled pineapple fruit cake recipe. Put loads more fruit in it. Icing requires a chainsaw, no complaints about broken teeth otherwise no more cake. Ever!
Yes, had a slice on Christmas Day.
If you want the ~really_ easy recipe, PM me.

You definitely do have talents Laura the baking talent may just be hiding ?

I’m sure you are Puzzler, my comment was not meant to be anything other than shame on me, gran without talent.

Laura I’m gleaning tips from our experienced baking Grans in the hope it will help me to succeed with a cake to be proud of next Christmas. ?

Reading this is like eavesdropping on a WI meeting. Creeping away for a slice of Aldi’s Genoa cake

Mine is a handed down wedding cake recipe, I've never been disappointed in it. 4 Yr old GS helped decorate it ;-) with cheerios, choc buttons, and gummy bears, lol ?. Took photo for DD, then put my decs on...

Have just enjoyed a slice of my homemade, rum soaked Christmas cake with a cup of coffee. I use James Martin’s recipe and it never disappoints. I found it online.

OH makes our Christmas cake in September every year and feeds it with brandy or rum till December when it normally gets iced. He used to make six, but now it's down to two. My DM loves his fruit cake.

This year he hasn't got round to icing them yet, as we can't deliver one to DM, so we will probably be eating it well into January once it's been iced. Along with a lovely chunk of Cheddar, yum.

Thank you and enjoy it glammanana.
The snow effect icing, nice and thick, is exactly what will go on my cake next Christmas. With some lustre powder, and a snowman if I can find one. I’m fancying some now too. ?