Easy christmas cake

One year I bought a Delia box containing all the weighed ingredients, and it was very easy. I think it was from Waitrose.

However, by the time you've done that, marzipanned and iced it, it may be cheaper to buy one.

DH announced this evening that he's going to make a gluten free Christmas cake this year because we're going to be on our own.

He's never ever made a cake let alone a gluten free one.

Can't wait!

I like this James Martin recipe, it’s so easy.

It’s the decorating that’s trickier IMO but get the cake made and maturing first!

Callistemon

One year I bought a Delia box containing all the weighed ingredients, and it was very easy. I think it was from Waitrose.

However, by the time you've done that, marzipanned and iced it, it may be cheaper to buy one.

Yep, I agree Callistemon, I bought the Delia Christmas cake in a box and by the time you'd added the butter and eggs, it was really no cheaper than buying a ready made one.

Chewbecca? Had to do a double take to see if I'd posted on here and forgotten. The almost identical nick name could cause some confusion.

I’m not sure cost is the deciding factor whether to buy in or make it yourself though, homemade should be loads nicer too.

Oh no, sorry. I didn’t realise there was a v close name already. It’s my name on MN, I thought I would try out transitioning to GN!

Sorry Chewbecca, I've been Chewbacca on here for 4 years!

I didn't think the system allowed such close names.
That could cause a lot of confusion, Chewy. ?

Marydoll

I didn't think the system allowed such close names.
That could cause a lot of confusion, Chewy. ?

No, nor did I Marydoll; the names are so strikingly alike that even I didn't spot the difference at first.

Aldi xmas cake is gorgeous. Why bother making it when you can buy one.

I have always made Christmas cakes as did my mum & her mum. They are not difficult to make. Just plan ahead so the dried fruit gets a good 24 hours soaking in alcohol. If you dislike candied peel leave it out and make up the weight with extra sultanas or cherries. I have used the Delia Smith recipe as a guide it is fairly traditional which I prefer.
I will make mine next week ( half term) so it has time to be fed more alcohol & mature before Christmas. ? I will also make one with GF flour for my brother.

I have made many in my time and just love the tradition of doing so. Tried lots of different recipes but always return to the fruit cake recipe in my very old BeRo book (sepia pages version) Never found a bought cake that came anywhere near.

GrannyLaine I suspect that was the recipe my mum & nana used..they were great fans of Be-Ro flour!,

I'm going to make my first Christmas cake for decades but I can't find a cake tin in the shops near me!!!

(Re names I've discovered there is a yellowmellow on GN. I didn't realise when I chose mine, so aplogies to you ym.)

I thought you were contradicting yourself there, Chewbacca, one moment recommending James Martin's Christmas cake and the next minute saying it's cheaper to buy one!

Confusing.

The first one I made was a Delia recipe which used a jar of quality mincemeat. It was very good.

Delia’s Last Minute Mincemeat Christmas Cake may be worth a try. It uses mincemeat to replace the need to soak dried fruit. I made it years ago and it went down well!

Snap Chelsea ?

Love Christmas cake and always mess about with recipes.
I never use mix3d peel as I dint like it either so adjust weights of fruit with others. Alcohol varies, Fireball this year?!
It’s not difficult to do once it’s in the tin and in the oven it’s going * to taste yummy regardless provided the temperature is correct and it’s cooked for long enough.

Buy a supermarket fruit cake. Unwrap. Prick it and sprinkle with brandy. Wrap in greaseproof paper and seal in tin. Repeat every two weeks until ready to ice. Pass off as your own boozy Christmas cake.

I’ll get me coat

I don’t like peel either, Sophiasnana. Last time I made a ?cake I just put some chopped almonds in, instead.

I haven’t iced one for ages - nobody ever ate the icing. I brush it with warmed apricot jam, arrange a load of nuts in a nice pattern on top, brush again with AJ, and tie a tartan ribbon around it. I’m not at all artistic but it always looks really nice.

I just make a Dundee type cake. DH grumbles about lack of icing and marzipan, but when we had ones with icing, he left most of it, ‘too sweet’.

The two of us can polish it off in about a week! Usually do the BeRo one.

Make a simnel cake at Easter to get our marzipan fix.