. I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. A plain Christmas Cake does look like a big, dark brown block so it is nice to decorate it! Would that change the cooking time? It turns cynics into converts. Press on a 45 degree angle on side of cake about 2.5 cm / 1″ apart all around the cake; Then 45 degrees in the opposite direction to create “diamond”; Dip the blunt end of a wooden skewer into water, then press a light indent into fondant on intersection of diamond. Cool completely before serving. Good on yah for a fabulous cake. Good Housekeeping: Bake your best fruitcake ever. A visual of the steps is included in the recipe video above the recipe card, and below in photos. To prepare the fruit: Combine the fruit with the liquid of your choice in a non-reactive bowl; cover ⦠Jun 13, 2016 - This recipe is not your ordinary fruitcake. Here’s how I decorated the side of the cake: Use something with a clean edge but not as sharp as a knife (I used a cake server). The quantities depend on the number of cakes you're making. Definitely will become a new tradition every holiday. Hi Nagi, can I bake this in a 20 x 7cm round cake tin? Of advertising copy, dialogue and long-term story for several network soap operas, magazine articles and high-calorie contents for the cookbook: Cooking: It AIn't Rocket Science, a bestseller on Amazon! I take a speedy approach: just microwave the dried fruit with juice and/or brandy, then stand for 1 hour to soak up the liquid. I love hearing how you went with my recipes! The key step that makes this so much faster to make than other fruit cakes is the fruit soaking step. All fruitcake recipes call for a variety of spices. Preheat oven to 160°C / 320°F (140°C fan). So if you're planning on making your own cake this Christmas we have over 20 recipes to choose. During childhood after the last day of the school when we used to return home after wishing everybody, the aroma of freshly baked cake ⦠Use a cake turn table, if you have one. Tip the fruit mixture into a large bowl ⦠What would the cooking time be? Top with cherries, dusting with icing sugar, give it a grand spin to admire your work ⦠But if the August doldrums are getting you down, there's nothing exciting to do and the heat and humidity are unbearable, crank up your air conditioner and get to work making fruitcakes from scratch. Dust work surface with icing sugar. Hi Nagi, this looks divine and I am going to try it for the first time this year. Flour is a secondary ingredient to the sugars, and most recipes use less flour than sugar. Don’t get too hung up about perfection here – this layer is to create a smooth surface for the fondant layer; Roll out fondant the same way as the marzipan, including rolling it around the rolling pin to transfer to the cake; Unroll over the cake, then gently press down the side of the cake, stretching gently as needed to make it fit with no pleats. He wasn’t happy – but at least he wasn’t inhaling bushfire smoke!! Here’s what you need for the Soaked Dried Fruit. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until just incorporated. The best fruit cake recipe youâll ever make! Adding Spices and Nuts. This fruit cake is full flavoured and very moist so unlike other cakes, you don’t need a frosting to make it ultra delish to eat! Give it a few more minutes to absorb, then replace the top parchment. But no one turns away a slosh of custard! Bring mixture to a boil stirring often, then reduce heat and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. So if I can do it, you can do it too! My seventh grade English teacher didn't realize what she was unleashing when she called me her "writer," but the word crept into my brain. Drape over cake, stretching and pressing to cover sides with as few pleats as possible. No frosting, no fondant – nothing needed – and it’s certainly how I pick away at the leftovers for weeks and weeks! Let the cake cool completely, and then poke holes in the top. But see below for decorating and serving ideas (traditionally served with pouring custard). Use wet table eating knife to smooth pleats, doesn't need to look perfect - this is Layer 1 to smooth cake, plus also for the subtle almond flavour. Could I use 4 mini loaf tins 9.5cm x 7cm x 4.5 high?? Absolutely easy to make and it turned out just like in the photos! But if you opt for store bought, do my little pimping up trick – just stir in some vanilla bean paste. Our beautiful country is suffering terrible bushfires of scales that are unimaginable – and summer has only just started. Marzipan layer mainly for creating perfect smooth surface for fondant layer. Great to hear, thanks for letting me know, I have a 20cm square pan, would it be the same cooking time? Thanks, Sabrina, I’ve served straight away and it’s fabulous! Add the rest of your ingredients; mix, then pour into your baking pans. I DID become a writer. Dip the blunt end of a wooden skewer into water, then press a light indent into fondant on intersection of diamond. Then press in a silver ball (water makes it stick). When I'm not writing, I'm cooking! For me personally I think a square one may be easier with the corner? Hi Nagi, I’m about to make this beautiful fruitcake but I would like to use 2 loaf pans (8x3x2”) instead, and was wondering what would be your recommendation for baking time. Remove from heat and cool for at least 15 minutes. If you need a holiday fruitcake in a hurry â buy it! This dark and spongy cake is a labor of love that is rich in flavors from rum soaked fruits. This helps maintain moisture as it ages and enhances the flavor. Use small pinches of surplus fondant if needed. In some countries, fruitcake preparations start the day after Christmas for the following Christmas. We've put together our best Christmas cake recipes of all time. A traditional moist fruit cake made with rum soaked dried fruit, citrus zest, and candied ginger. Because it’s a dense cake, it needs to be baked long and slow in order to cook it all the way through without drying out the edges and surface (without fussing with water baths). Double layering protects the batter from scorching during the long baking. Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates. Join my free email list to receive THREE free cookbooks! All fruitcake recipes ⦠Old-fashioned fruitcake recipes cater to all tastes and are lenient with the ingredients. It's a Christmas favorite and you'll have your guests coming back for more. 3 months in the fridge, a year in the freezer. Wrap in sherry or triple sec soaked cheesecloth for at least a week for best ⦠Thank you , Hi Nagi, love this recipe – sounds delicious! The fruit is soaked in either apple juice OR a combination of apple juice and brandy (for those who like boozy Christmas Cake). The fruit's been soaked; the nuts dredged in flour. Press on a 45 degree angle on side of cake about 2.5 cm / 1" apart all around the cake, then 45 degrees in the opposite direction to create "diamond". Right here -> Christmas Recipes. Cover the top with more parchment, and then bake for at least 4 hours. The red and green cherries are dyed to create the intense color. Weâve distilled the choices down to our top 7 best Christmas cake recipes. It has been a favored gift amongst Jamaicans during the Christmas season. I’m fussy about Christmas Cake because (speaking frankly) there are too many not-so-great-ones out there. Brandy, rum or sherry are the suggested alcohols to use for soaking your fruit and topping the cake. As I want to cut it in half and decorate it as you have to give each half to family as there is 2 people in family and a whole cake will be too much. Stir rind (or orange essence) and eggs into the fruit mixture, then the sifted dry ingredients. (Batter can be completed up to this point, then covered and refrigerated for ⦠Also have parchment paper and cheesecloth on hand. If the batter is thin, the fruit falls to the bottom. been 1hr in the oven now. Hi Kim, you sure can, you’ll just have to adjust the cook time accordingly depending on the size of tin you use. A tip when adding the nuts is to dredge them in flour before adding to the batter. Excellent Christmas cake recipe!. So much faster – and just as effective! Cinnamon and cloves are the Good Housekeeping spice suggestions. Hungry for more? Grease and line a 21 - 22 cm / 8 - 9" round cake pan with baking paper (parchment paper) (7 cm / 2.75" tall). The cake has very little baking powder because it’s quite a dense cake. Microwave 1 1/2 minutes on high or until hot. Cover then set aside for 1 hour (to plump up/soak and cool). Store in a cool place for several weeks; this blends and mellows the cake. Check your spice cupboard for nutmeg and mixed spice â a blend of allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, cloves, coriander and ginger. Flour is a secondary ingredient to the sugars, and most recipes use less flour than sugar. Strawberry Cake – really easy cake recipe, Best to use a cake turntable or similar (I used a small lazy susan!). Or will it be moist enough? Choosing the best Christmas cake recipes is not an easy task. Oops good. If so how long would I cook it for? If the batter is thin, the fruit falls to the bottom. Bake at 275° for 3 hours. If you follow a gluten-free diet, use gluten-free flour and xanthan gum in your recipe. Dried fruits and nuts are mixed with oil, wine, and flour to create a humble yet tasty treat ⦠Remove from oven and cool for 20 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Homemade custard, if you can. Now it's time to prepare the pan with a double layer of parchment, especially around the edges. Could I soak fruit for longer like a week or so? Test by tapping the top or inserting a bamboo stick into the cake. N x, I made the cake yesterday,how long does it need to mature before serving. With your hands ⦠Place the pan in an oven tray and add boiling water to the tray. Thanks so much dear Nagi! A Jamaican Christmas celebration is not complete without traditional Jamaican Christmas Fruit cake. Bring to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 mins. Cherries or other fruit dusted with icing sugar. But the one thing they all have in common is that they need to age, like fine wine. Would I need to change the quantities at all?? Every few weeks, visit your cake to brush more alcohol on the top. 3 hours 15 minutes, to be exact! ... Mama's White Fruit Cake ⦠TIP: If you have cracks / crevices / tears, just wet a table knife then use it to “smear” the fondant to seal the cracks. Just made this. This will prevent the cake ⦠The longer the cakes age, the better they taste. It is very popular during Christmas ⦠If you don't want alcohol, choose a fruit juice you like, but not one with water as the main ingredient. Pangiallo laziale (Italian Christmas Cakes) Pangiallo is a traditional Italian Christmas cake, originally from Rome. Christmas cake recipes typically all share one common ingredient â dried fruit⦠The crunch in your fruitcake comes from the nuts. Thanks, Laura (UK), My cake looks incredible!! As you may know, there's a very famous recipe⦠It’s a fruit cake that’s incredibly easy to make, with a rich, velvety texture that’s full flavoured and so moist it can be eaten plain. Required fields are marked *. A Web Experience brought to you by LEAFtv. Best Rich Fruit Cake Recipe, Rich Fruit Cake Recipes, Fruitcake Recipe, Fruit Cake for Christmas Bake in a double boiler. I think the turning point was the discovery of white fruitcake. Cool. And lastly, you’ll be very happy to know this keeps for weeks and weeks! The cake in the photos is the 2nd time in my life I’ve used fondant. With such a long and rich tradition the variations and options seem endless. 42 Best Christmas Fruitcake Recipes - Holiday Fruitcake Ideas Thank you, Hi Nagi. But if you really want to make it special, serve it with custard. Heat the oven to 275° Fahrenheit â no higher. Place the currants, sultanas and raisins in a bowl. Dust work surface with icing sugar (powdered sugar) and shape marzipan into a disc; Roll marzipan out so it’s large enough to cover the sides of the cake; Roll the marzipan lightly around the rolling pin (best way to handle because marzipan is prone to tearing, can’t pick it up); Gently press down around the sides, making it as smooth as possible and stretching / adjusting as needed to avoid “pleats”. Pour into cake pan, cover with foil and bake for 3 hours 15 minutes, removing foil the last 45 minutes. Large eggs, baking powder, golden syrup and softened unsalted butter round out your ingredients list. If candied fruit isn't to your liking, use dried fruit such as golden raisins and apricots; for a taste of the tropics, add pineapple, mango, cantaloupe, dates or papaya. Will try it out for Christmas. Made this Christmas cake recipe. Thank you so much from Canada . Spread ⦠Your email address will not be published. Heat the wine or sherry until it just starts to ⦠Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. To a large baking sheet, add pecans, pistachios, almonds, and coconut. Do you recommend brushing it with brandy maybe once a week? The little black specks gives it a little “extra special” look and it does wonders to freshen up the flavour too! This fruit cake uses a highly effective FAST fruit soaking method by heating in the microwave then soaking for just 1 hour. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Soak cherries, mango, cranberries, currants, and citron in 1/4 cup rum for at least 24 hours. Wrap the entire cake in cheesecloth, and let it age in a cool, dark place. Hi Lenya, I haven’t tried doing this but I imagine that will work fine! Add oil and molasses, beat until combined. Shape marzipan into a disc then roll out so it's large enough to cover cake and sides (250g/8oz marzipan covers this cake perfectly with some excess). This adds moisture and flavor. PS How did I get all the way down to here without telling you where all my Christmas recipes live?? Pour the mixture to the prepared baking dish and bake for 2 to 2 ¼ hours or until the cake is firm to ⦠Plain flour (all-purpose) or even wheat flour can be used in your fruitcake. These sugars get their color from the processing, which adds molasses to the formula, creating the color and sweetness. The one thing they all have in common is that they need to be after! An electric beater, beat butter and sugars in a bowl do my little pimping up trick – stir! Comes out clean, it 's a Christmas favorite and you 'll have your guests coming back for more with... You follow a gluten-free diet, use gluten-free flour and xanthan gum in your classic fruitcake call dark. Finally a recipe that doesnt require poking holes and aging day before, or even wheat flour be. Hour before cake is done, brush top with cherries, dusting with sugar. 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