Spiced chocolate & dried fig Christmas cake | Chocolate recipes | Jamie magazine recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is it too late to make a Christmas cake? ›

Is it too late to make a christmas cake? Of course not! With some people making their Christmas cakes in the early autumnal months, don't panic if you haven't started yours yet! This easy recipe means you still have time.

There's no hard and fast rule about when to ice your cake, but it's best to do it between 24 hours and a week ahead of the big day.

If you're looking for a dry cake, simply over-bake it! In all seriousness though, over-baking cakes dry them out. It could only be a 30 second window between perfectly baked and over-baked, so make sure you're keeping an eye on the cake. Begin checking it 1-2 minutes before the recipe instructs.

This is a question I get asked a lot and my answer is early November. Yes this seems early, but there are two key things that make a Christmas cake extra tasty and that is…

Other good choices of booze include brandy, rum, or whiskey. Feel free to use one or a mix of these to best complement your fruitcake. Once you've chosen the liquor, bake the cake, poke holes throughout the whole thing, and pour a few tablespoons of the alcohol over it. Or, you can brush the cake with the alcohol.

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.

If the cake has been wrapped in baking parchment (parchment paper) or greaseproof paper and then stored then this should not be a problem. The best thing to do is look at the cake. If there are any signs of mould, or if the cake has a fermented, sour or odd smell, then it is safer to discard the cake.

It's worth noting that the container that you store your Christmas cake in must be airtight as otherwise, the proteins in the ingredients (eggs, butter, nuts…) will become oxidised if exposed to air — which causes rancid odours and flavours. Fruit cakes can generally be stored for up to a year in the freezer.

Be sure to coat your cake before applying royal icing. You can use marzipan, fondant, buttercream, or a syrup. This is done to seal the moisture in the cake and prevent it from going dry.

Can you ice a Christmas cake without using marzipan? Yes. If you paint the cake with apricot jam, you can use a fondant icing and just fix it on with the jam.

How long does royal icing take to dry on a Christmas cake? ›

Apply the Royal Icing

Decorate as you wish with silver or gold sugar balls, Christmas ornaments, or other festive decorations. Let the cake dry, uncovered until the icing sets hard, at least overnight or up to three days before serving. If not serving immediately, store in an airtight container.

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.

Fruit cakes usually turn darker as they are matured. So we suggest that you make the cake 6 weeks before you wish to ice it (so roughly the second week of November) and then store it and feed it with some extra alcohol.

Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin.

Once cut, Christmas cakes will store well if wrapped and kept in an airtight container. For longer storage of Christmas cakes wrap closely in kitchen foil and freeze. To serve an iced fruit cake that has been stored for a long time, unwrap it and remove the old icing and marzipan.

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.