Christmas Cake! – Jane’s Patisserie

Some of the iconic bakes that exists, the christmas cake… selfmade and delicious full of 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 couple of Christmas Cake hopefully you’ll perceive why!

Christmas baking is considered 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 very best factor to start out with on a recipe submit, however genuinely? I’m not the largest fan. Nevertheless, 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 sometimes with bakes like this it is advisable 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 in regards to the individuals who, like me, typically overlook to create a bake like these inside the timeframe. This Christmas cake recipe nevertheless?! Oh that’s the alternative. I’m bang on the proper time for this magnificence.

For those who don’t like Christmas cake or Christmas pudding although, and also you need a tremendous showstopper, you may attempt my different bakes equivalent to my Rocky Street Christmas Pudding – that is my go to.

Christmas Cake

Christmas cake? Sure, Christmas cake. There’s a whole lot of opinions on when is greatest to make it, so its completely as much as you. Sure, it should work should you make it barely afterward within the yr, but it surely’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 very best 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 many others… simply the nearer to Christmas you make it, the much less feeding time you’ve got. You’ll be able to retailer and wrap the Christmas cake rather well after feeding in parchment paper and tin foil, in a metallic cake tin (plastic tubs could make them sweat).

The fruit

In terms of the fruit of the Christmas cake, you may 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 blended peel. The full weight is about 1075g value of fruits, which is rather a lot – however you want rather a lot for an honest Christmas cake!

For those who don’t have barely the right amount of one thing, you should use different fruits as nicely. You too can purchase prepared blended dried fruit for fruit desserts so should you don’t wish to purchase a whole lot of separate packets, then that’s completely high quality.

The opposite components

In terms of 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 equivalent to blended spice, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. I additionally add a little bit of vanilla.

The butter is essential, however I soften it into the fruity combination in order that it melts down nicely. The sugar is mild brown tender 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 an alternative of plain flour and baking powder, and a few floor almonds.

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

The alcohol

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

You need to use whiskey, rum, brandy, amaretto and many others however you may actually simply choose your favorite, the most affordable, the nicest, and many others… it’s completely as much as you. You combine the alcohol into the fruit in the beginning of creating the Christmas cake, and then you definitely use it to feed the cake till you eat it.

In order for you 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 approach. 

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 might 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 it is advisable to wrap the cake nicely.

I prefer to feed my cake with a number of 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 should make it moist and sticky so barely annoying.

For those who 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 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 blended peel
• zest of 2 lemons
• juice of 2 lemons
• 175 ml alcohol (I used brandy)
• 250 g unsalted butter
• 200 g mild brown tender sugar
• 50 g treacle
• 200 g self elevating flour
• 100 g floor almonds
• 2 tsp blended 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, blended 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 nicely.

• Alternatively, add all the components to a big pan, deliver 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, blended 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 primarily based and sides nicely. You do not need any tin displaying as it could get caught

• Pour the combination into the lined tin, and bake for two hours. Regulate it in the direction of the top, if its browning an excessive amount of, cowl evenly 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 nicely in baking parchment after which foil, in a cake tin. Sealed tubs could make it sweat. 

ENJOY!

Discover my different recipes on my Recipes Web page!

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J x

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