Last minute christmas cake recipe bbc

This moist fruit cake doesn't need to be fed so it's the perfect last-minute Christmas cake. The cake itself is very easy to make — the tricky part is the icing, but you can obviously decorate it however you please.

Over the years we have tried various Christmas cake recipes but the best by far was the one that we made last year, a week before Christmas. We wanted a cake packed with fruit but not a dark heavy traditional type of Christmas cake. My Mother used to make us these and bring one each Christmas. Then she decided to buy them. These were worse and not disguised by being fed with lashings of brandy. We tried feeding one particularly disappointing one to the birds one year, and even they turned their beaks up at it. I skimmed though all our books and found a recipe for a Christmas cake that sounded lighter than usual and tinkered with the ingredients.

Last minute christmas cake recipe bbc

Bring slowly to the boil, stirring until the butter has melted. Reduce the heat and bubble for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Toast the nuts in a dry frying pan, tossing them until evenly browned, or in the oven for minutes - keep an eye on them as they burn easily. When they are cool, chop roughly. Stir the eggs, nuts and ground almonds into the fruit mixture and mix well. Sift the flour, baking powder and spices into the pan. Stir in gently, until there are no traces of flour left. Spoon the mixture into the tin and smooth it down evenly - you will find this is easiest with the back of a metal spoon which has been dipped into boiling water. Cover the top of the cake with foil if it starts to darken too much. To check the cake is done, insert a fine skewer into the centre - if it comes out clean, the cake is cooked. Make holes all over the warm cake with a fine skewer and spoon the extra 4tbsp brandy over the holes until it has all soaked in. Leave the cake to cool in the tin. When it's cold, remove it from the tin, peel off the lining paper, then wrap first in baking parchment and then in foil. The cake will keep in a cupboard for up to three months or you can freeze it for six months. Christmas raspberry dodgers.

By Mary Berry. Thanks Kieran, I made it too this Christmas — after a break — it was enjoyed by everyone and quickly disappeared. Back to Recipes Vegan dinner recipes Easy vegan recipes Vegan slow cooker recipes Vegan soup recipes.

If you're making and decorating a Christmas cake for the first time or wanting a new twist on the classic mix of spices, dried fruits, nuts and booze, then look no further. Recipes from expert bakers give you step-by-step instructions on how to make - and ice - the perfect Christmas cake. If you don't have the required tin size, go to her cake calculator to recalculate the ingredients and cooking time for your cake tin. Keep your Christmas cake wrapped in brown paper and sealed in an airtight tin for the months leading up to Christmas in a cool, dark place. A cake can be covered in marzipan days before eating. Allow a day before icing for the marzipan to dry, plus another day for the icing to set completely.

Bake this festive fruit cake in advance of Christmas and feed it regularly with rum, brandy or whisky to build the flavour and keep it moist. Put 1kg mixed dried fruit, the zest and juice of 1 orange and 1 lemon, ml brandy or other alcohol, g softened butter and g light, soft brown sugar in a large pan set over a medium heat. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 mins. Tip the fruit mixture into a large bowl and leave to cool for 30 mins. Line a deep 20cm cake tin with a double layer of baking parchment , then wrap a double layer of newspaper around the outside — tie with string to secure. Tip into your prepared tin, level the top with a spatula and bake in the centre of the oven for around 2 hrs. If any wet cake mixture clings to the skewer, return the cake to the oven for another 10 mins then check again and keep cooking, checking every 10 mins until the skewer comes out dry. Remove the cake from the oven, poke holes in it with a skewer and spoon over 2 tbsp of your chosen alcohol.

Last minute christmas cake recipe bbc

For a better experience on Delia Online website, enable JavaScript in your browser. All is not lost though. However, should you wish it would be easy to put ready-made marzipan and fondant icing on instead of the nuts. Just click the recipe image to play. This recipe is from Delia's Happy Christmas. Begin the cake a few hours before you want to make it or even the night before and simply place all the pre-soaking ingredients into a bowl, stir really well, then cover with a cloth and leave in a cool place. Now, preferably using an electric hand whisk or a wooden spoon , beat everything together as thoroughly as possible, which will probably take about 1 minute. Then pour it into the prepared tin, level the top and arrange the whole nuts in rows across the surface — one row of Brazils, one of pecans, and so on.

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To check the cake is done, insert a fine skewer into the centre - if it comes out clean, the cake is cooked. Add the flour, cocoa powder, mixed spice and salt and whisk until smooth. Do aphrodisiacs work? Recipes from this episode. Transfer to a cake stand or serving plate. Method Mix the dried fruit and sherry in a bowl and leave to soak for at least 30 minutes, but preferably for a few hours. Back to Recipes Vegan dinner recipes Easy vegan recipes Vegan slow cooker recipes Vegan soup recipes. Save recipe. Christmas cake with brandy butter icing by Dan Lepard. Repeat this process, removing and stirring again at 30 second intervals until the marshmallows have melted. Search, save and sort your favourite recipes and view them offline. Christmas pudding. See more christmas cake recipes These were worse and not disguised by being fed with lashings of brandy.

If you're making and decorating a Christmas cake for the first time or wanting a new twist on the classic mix of spices, dried fruits, nuts and booze, then look no further.

Cover the top of the cake with foil if it starts to darken too much. Fiona Nevile December 30, Tip the fruit and peel into a bowl with the orange juice and zest and ml of the brandy. Gluten-free Christmas cake by Annie Rigg. Carefully push down the icing to cover the sides of the cake including the board. The Cottage Smallholder stumbling self sufficiency in a small space. Christmas pudding. Using a small sharp knife cut a straight edge along one length and cut the other into a silhouette of rooftops — making sure it is no deeper than the height of the cake. Victoria sponge. Beat the muscovado sugar and butter until light and fluffy, then add the eggs one at a time.