Classic British Christmas Cake 🎄🍰
This traditional Christmas cake is rich, moist, and packed with dried fruits, warm spices, and festive flavour. Topped with marzipan and icing, it’s a perfect centrepiece for your holiday table!
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
🍇 Mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, sultanas): 500g
🍒 Glacé cherries: 100g, halved
🍋 Zest of lemon: 1
🍊 Zest of orange: 1
🍊 Orange juice: 100ml
🧈 Unsalted butter: 200g, softened
🍬 Brown sugar: 200g
🥚 Eggs: 4 large
🍰 Plain flour: 225g
🥄 Ground cinnamon: 1 tsp
🌰 Ground nutmeg: ½ tsp
🥄 Mixed spice: 1 tsp
🥄 Baking powder: ½ tsp
🌰 Chopped nuts (e.g., almonds, pecans): 100g
For Decorating:
🎂 Marzipan: 500g
🍬 Ready-to-roll icing: 500g
🍋 Apricot jam: 2 tbsp, warmed
🎄 Festive decorations (optional): Holly leaves, cranberries, etc.
Method:
1. Prepare the Fruit Mix:
🍊 Combine the mixed dried fruit, glacé cherries, lemon zest, orange zest, and orange juice in a bowl. Cover and leave to soak overnight for maximum flavour.
2. Make the Cake Batter:
🔥 Preheat your oven to 140°C (fan). Grease and line a 20cm round cake tin with parchment paper.
🧈 Cream the butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy.
🥚 Beat in the eggs, one at a time, ensuring each is fully incorporated.
3. Combine Ingredients:
🍰 Sift together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, mixed spice, and baking powder. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture.
🌰 Stir in the soaked fruits (including any leftover juices) and the chopped nuts until evenly distributed.
4. Bake the Cake:
🥮 Spoon the batter into the prepared tin, smoothing the top. Cover the tin loosely with foil to prevent over-browning.
🔥 Bake for 4–4.5 hours, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin before removing.
5. Prepare for Decoration:
🍋 Brush the top of the cooled cake with warmed apricot jam. Roll out the marzipan to fit over the cake and press it down smoothly.
🍬 Roll out the ready-to-roll icing and layer it over the marzipan, trimming the edges neatly.
6. Decorate:
🎄 Add festive decorations like holly leaves, cranberries, or edible glitter to finish.
Serving Information:
⏱ Prep Time: 30 minutes (plus soaking time)
⏱ Cook Time: 4–4.5 hours
🍴 Servings: 12–14 slices
🔥 Calories: ~350 per slice
A Christmas cake is best made ahead to let the flavours develop—prepare it up to a month in advance, storing it wrapped in parchment and foil in an airtight container. Merry Christmas! 🎄✨