Christmas Cake! - Jane's Patisserie

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Some of the iconic bakes that exists, the christmas cake… selfmade and delicious crammed with fruit, and soaked in brandy!

Christmas baking

So lets the trustworthy 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 one among 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 most effective factor to start out with on a recipe submit, however genuinely? I’m not the largest fan. Nonetheless, my household adore Christmas cake and so they haven’t any examined and tasted SO MANY CAKES so I may submit this recipe.

Christmas pudding

I’ve a cheats Christmas pudding in my second guide, as sometimes with bakes like this you must take your time. They’re recipes that develop over the time due to the alcohol that you simply put into the bake.

Nonetheless, for the cheats Christmas pudding I believed concerning the individuals who, like me, typically overlook to create a bake like these inside the time-frame. This Christmas cake recipe nonetheless?! Oh that’s the other. I’m bang on the proper time for this magnificence.

In case you don’t like Christmas cake or Christmas pudding although, and also you need a tremendous showstopper, you possibly can attempt my different bakes akin to my Rocky Street Christmas Pudding – that is my go to.

Christmas Cake

Christmas cake? Sure, Christmas cake. There’s a number of opinions on when is greatest to make it, so its fully as much as you. Sure, it is going to work for those who make it barely afterward within the 12 months, however it’s greatest to crack on as quickly as doable.

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 most effective 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 so on… simply the nearer to Christmas you make it, the much less feeding time you’ve. You possibly can 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 the case of the fruit of the Christmas cake, you possibly can cater it extra to what you like, 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 exploit a mix of raisins, sultanas, currants, dried cranberries, glaze cherries, and combined peel. The whole weight is about 1075g price of fruits, which is quite a bit – however you want quite a bit for an honest Christmas cake!

In case you don’t have barely the right amount of one thing, you should use different fruits as properly. You may also purchase prepared combined dried fruit for fruit truffles so for those who don’t wish to purchase a number of separate packets, then that’s completely superb.

The opposite components

In the case 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 akin to combined spice, ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon. I additionally add a little bit of vanilla.

The butter is vital, however I soften it into the fruity combination in order that it melts down properly. The sugar is mild brown smooth sugar, and I exploit some black treacle (you should use golden syrup). The flour is customary, I exploit self elevating as an alternative of plain flour and baking powder, and a few floor almonds.

In case you don’t wish to use nuts, you should use extra flour as an alternative of the bottom almonds. Additionally, combine via the eggs… I exploit 5 medium, however 4 massive eggs can even work tremendous properly.

The alcohol

The massive a part of the Christmas cake… the alcohol you utilize. You possibly can range this to once more your choice however it’s typically a fairly sturdy spirit alcohol that you simply want and wish to use. I went for brandy on this recipe.

You should use whiskey, rum, brandy, amaretto and so on however you possibly can truthfully simply choose your favorite, the most cost effective, the nicest, and so on… it’s fully as much as you. You combine the alcohol into the fruit firstly of constructing 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 manner.

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 just a few hours to chill down correctly, after which you must wrap the cake properly.

I wish to feed my cake with just a few tablespoons of brandy each two weeks up till Christmas. If you wish to enhance your Christmas cake, you don’t want to feed it simply earlier than as it is going to make it moist and sticky so barely annoying.

In case you make your cake nearer to Christmas, that’s completely okay. You actually don’t must make it 12 weeks earlier than, so don’t stress for those who 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 combined peel
zest of 2 lemons
juice of 2 lemons
175 ml alcohol (I used brandy)
250 g unsalted butter
200 g mild brown smooth sugar
50 g treacle
200 g self elevating flour
100 g floor almonds
2 tsp combined 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, combined 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 properly.
Alternatively, add all the components to a big pan, deliver to the boil, and simmer for 10 minutes.
Depart 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, combined 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 based mostly and sides properly. You do not need any tin exhibiting as it could get caught
Pour the combination into the lined tin, and bake for two hours. Keep watch over it in the direction of the tip, 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 finished nearer to the time
I feed my cake each 2 weeks
You possibly can freeze the cake, wrapped in baking parchment after which tin foil, for 3+ months
I exploit brandy, however you should use any wealthy spirit (learn the weblog submit)
Attempt to retailer the cake wrapped properly in baking parchment after which foil, in a cake tin. Sealed tubs could make it sweat.

ENJOY!

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