Saturday 20 November 2010

Completely gorgeous Christmas Cake - preparations

If you have the time this weekend, consider cutting down on stress in the build-up for Christmas, and start making your Christmas cake and Christmas pudding.You still have all the time in the world to do this at the moment , and a weekend will give you time so you can bake at leisure.
I know I have heard people often say "I don't like Christmas cake " and , it is quite true, if you buy them ready made , they very often disappoint,  as they can be stodgy, heavy and quite sharp-tasting.
The contrast with a home made cake and pudding is surprising, and it is really worthwhile to make your own.
Make your own or don't eat them at all, that's what I say !!
Below a recipes that I can assure you are delicious.Get baking - you will never regret it!
By the time it's Christmas you can whip it out and suprise everyone with a stunner of a Christmas cake.This cake improves with age so it's a win-win situation !!
                                                                  Christmas cake                      
Mmmmmm- you can eat this till deep into January as it keeps very well- but you might have finished the last crumbs the week after Christmas, it's that tasty ....

Ingredients cake:
225 gr butter
250 gr candied fruits
250 gr raisins
225 gr currants
110 gr glaceed cherries
225 gr flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
225 gr brown sugar
150 gr ground almonds
4 eggs


1st Stage :the making & baking of the cake
Pre-heat the oven to 165 degrees Centigrade.
Butter a tin with a removable base with a diameter of 30 cm.
Take a piece of baking paper of about 50 cm long and 8 cm high and butter this, and put it, buttered side towards the tin-side, inside the tin so it forms an extra inside within the cake tin.
Mix the raisins, currants, and the cherries .
Sprinkle about 50 gr of flour over this and mix well so all the fruit is covered with a layer of the flour.Add the rest of the flour and the baking soda.
In a second bowl, mix the butter and the brown sugar to a creamy soft mixture.Add the ground almonds, then the eggs, one by one. Then add the flour and fruit mixture.
Mix well, then pour the mixture in the baking tin.Bake 1 hour and 45 minutes in the middle of the oven on 165 degrees Centigrade.Check if the cake is done, by putting a knitting needle in the middle- this should come out dry .
Let the cake cool down in the tin, then remove it from the tin and take off the baking paper from the side.

2nd stage: 
The decoration.
Ingredients:

Red-currant jelly.
Roll of ready-to use white marzipan
Tubes of ready-to-use icing in various colours ( red, green, yellow)
A stencil if you are not good with icing for a seasonal message
Readymade edible Christmas cake ornaments like Christmas trees, ice-bears or whatever takes your fancy.


Warm  4 table spoons of red-currant jelly , and spoon this on the top and the sides of the cake.
Even this with a spatula so you have a thin layer of jelly all over the top and side of the cake. 
Roll out the marzipan and drape it over the cake and press slightly so the sticky red-currant jelly acts as a glue to attach it to the cake.Cut off the bits that are too much so the cake is nicely covered with the marzipan.
Now it's time for the fun bit of decorating the cake.A classic is always to go for a symetrical design- see what kind of sweet edible Christams decorations you can get and decorate to your hearts content.
If you are not too good with the whole icing thing, use a stencil to write a Christmassy message- that's what I did !!
Start baking and start decorating !!! Enjoy!!This cake is delicious with a nice cup of tea!!!

                                                           Get into the Christmas spirit!!!




21 comments:

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Bea,

That's indeed a very good point; starting ahead of time with baking such a delicious Christmas Cake! Yours looks so artistic! Compliments and thanks for sharing the recipe.

Have a great weekend!

MariettesBacktoBasics

Deborah said...

First of all..welcome to blogland!!
Im your newest follower (purehunnybee)..so great to meet you!
That cake looks wonderful..what a great idea and a great time to start before the rush is on!
Gorgeous blog!!

With all my heart...Deborah :)

Diane H said...

My cakes and puddings are done! Thank you for your recipe, I shall keep it in my file - your cake looks absolutely wonderful.

Simple Daisy said...

GReat idea!!! And it all looks so yummy!

Anonymous said...

This cake looks wonderful! I love that first photo too. Beautiful!

Thoughtfully Blended Hearts said...

This looks yummy and I do love fruitcake...Thanks for the recipe!!!

The Charm of Home said...

Wonderful cake! Love how you have it decorated. I love your blue hutch too.
Sherry

we three dogs and me said...

cake looks yummy but i don't know what the grams so guess I will have to pass on that one. I am new on the blog so have a lot to learn. Hope you help me out and visit my blog. Happy thanksgiving

Miss Mustard Seed said...

The cake is lovely. Congrats on your guest post coming up! How exciting!

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Beautifully decorated cake! I've always loved fruit cake and the fruit cake cookies! Never understood why it has a bad reputation! They are delicious! I've never seen one with frosting and decorated! So pretty!

Susan Freeman said...

Ah yes ... I have made a Christmas cake or two. I love your blue hutch all decorated for the holiday!!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Anonymous said...

Your cake looks wonderful!! I'm in love with your gorgeous hutch. It looks so fabulous. I love your dishes too.

Kathy

Susan said...

Oh what a gorgeous Christmas Cake. I've not ever made one. It looks so wonderful, though. And your holiday decorations are so beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this lovely recipe and the directions. I may just have to give this one a try. It's too pretty to pass up.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Susan @ CluckleBees

aspiritofsimplicity said...

Oh it looks so pretty!

Chubby Chieque said...

I guess this is my first time in your blogsite. I am happy to join Marty.

Thanks for the recipe. I will for sure try this one and I copied your recipe.

TY for sharing...

Greetings from Stockholm,
/chie

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Love your pictures, the dining room and hutch are stunning, also the fireplace mantel is just gorgeous. I love the recipe. I will definitely have to make mine soon. Hugs, Marty

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage said...

Sounds delicious! Hubby is the "sweets" chef around here, and I'm sure he'll love to add this to his mountains of recipes! ;)

Thanks for linking to my party. It's fun to see what you link up each week.

Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I will have to make this it sounds really yummy.

Charlotte said...

Yummylicious!

Entertaining Women said...

Christmas cake sounds ever so much better than fruit cake. Thank you for sharing your recipe...your cake is beautiful! Cherry Kay

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Beautiful! I do love that pattern!