How to feed a Christmas cake (2024)

FAQs

How to serve Christmas fruit cake? ›

It is possible to use orange juice instead of alcohol for feeding Christmas cakes but we would suggest as a precaution that this is only done a couple of months in advance of the cake being eaten.

If you are wondering how do I feed it? What do I feed it with? Don't worry we aren't talking about serving it a plate of sprouts, feeding your cake simply means drizzling it with some liquid, typically alcohol such as brandy or sherry or alternatively you could use fruit juice.

Christmas cakes are also commonly made with pudding while a fruit cake uses butter, however there are Christmas cake recipes that do contain butter. The traditional Scottish Christmas cake, also known as the Whisky Dundee, is very popular.

We recommend wrapping your fruitcake in plastic wrap before placing it in an airtight container. Then, place that container in the fridge. Doing this can ensure your fruitcake stays fresh for up to two months.

Wrap the cake in greaseproof paper or baking parchment then wrap it in kitchen foil. Store cake in a second layer of foil or in an airtight tin. You can repeat the feeding process every couple of weeks for three or four feeds. However, if the cake makes the work surface damp, appears wet or stodgy, discontinue feeding.

What alcohol should you use? Strong, flavourful spirits with a high ABV are ideal for feeding fruitcakes. You can use rum, brandy or whisky for spice, or if you like citrus flavours, try an orange liqueur. Cherry brandy and amaretto will also work well if you prefer these.

As long as you're confident it's fully cooked, I don't think you've anything to worry about, especially as you'll be adding liquid. The only danger of over-cooking at low temperatures would be drying out, and that will be remedied.

Yes, you can make a fruit cake without brandy. Instead of brandy, you can use alternative liquids like apple juice, orange juice, or even tea to soak the dried fruits and add moisture and flavor to the cake.

Yes, it will work if you make it slightly later on in the year, but it's best to crack on as soon as possible. I've always been told whether its from the notes in my Granny's baking bible, or just by word of mouth, that 12 weeks before Christmas is the best time to create a Christmas cake.

Why did the fruit sink in my Christmas cake? ›

The light flour coating helps the fruit to 'stick' to the cake mixture better, stopping them from sinking. If you are using fruit such as glace cherries or larger fruits such as apple, you will need to halve or quarter them before dusting with flour, as if left whole they will be too large and will sink.

Soggy bottoms

This normally happens when the oven is not hot enough or the pastry is not baked for long enough. However, it can also be because too much water was added to the dough.

Hello, The brown paper is tied around the outside of the tin to protect the edges from getting overcooked during the long slow cooking.

Quick Christmas Cake decorations

It is a soft icing that dries so it is often better to just put it on the top of your cake. I used a long length of liquorice around mine but the decorating is up to you. You can leave the sides free of icing.

A cup of tea is fairly classic, but anything you want. Sweet liquor like Sherry or Madeira is also quite traditional, but any wine would reflect the fruit flavours. Fruitcake doesn't necessarily match with soda, milk or coffee, but there's nothing to stop you if you prefer that.

Christmas Cake Decorating options:

Simple – pile top with fresh cherries or other fruit, dust with icing sugar (powdered sugar). Drippy white glaze – use the glaze in this Lemon Cake recipe, but leave out the lemon juice (ie make a plain sweet white glaze). Serving – serve with custard for a traditional experience!

Its origins go as far back as the Middle Ages, when dried fruits became more widely available. The cost of ingredients was so high that in the 17th and 18th-century fruitcakes were only made for special occasions, such as weddings and holidays, particularly in Victorian England.