i feel so christmassy for i have made the cakes!! in order to give a really good brandy feed before the day i have got them in the oven now :) 1 for us and 1 for my best pals mum :)

smells terrific! just wish they didn't take so long to cook!

Yummy :) save some for me :-p i LOVE cake

mmmmmm don't im hungry now

me too please with alittle cream x

Gosh you are on the ball arent you!! Sounds nice, although i dont really like christmas pud, wish i did, cos some look fantastic!! :)

I made Christmas cake once; but it was too expensive.  Every time I went to give the cake a bit more brandy I had a little glass or two myself, so by the time Christmas came I'd bought 3 bottles of brandy "just for the cake."  :-)

> Every time I went to give the cake a bit more brandy I had a little glass or two myself, so by the time Christmas came I'd bought 3 bottles of brandy "just for the cake."  :-)

LMAO!!! Thats well funny!! :-D

lol

mine are getting a mixture of apricot brandy (already in the house) and a plain brandy. i don't like to drink it myself so not a prob :)

Can i have your receipe please?  I'm gonna do mine early next week, never done one before but after the parkin I've got the baking bug!

I stick to my crumble making at Christmas and change the ingredients to Rhubarb PMSL !!! :-D
Although I do a mean cheesecake :)

i used this one

http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/the-classic-christmas-cake,1293,RC.html

and it seems to have worked well. but its generally a fairly easy recipe, it just takes a while. the soaking of the fruit seems to have turned out lovely though.

make your your sugar and butter are well creamed (mixed together) and reallt air the flour with sieving.

liberally feed with brandy :)

it doesn't say so when you come to icing it get some apricot jam and add some boiling water, mix till its a paste. roll out marzipan. use a brush to cover the cake in the apricot syrup and then cover with marzipan. let that set then do the same with the icing. you can then decorate it in loads of lovely ways.

I use Delia's too, with a few changes to make a slightly 'lighter' cake.

I use light brown sugar. I use the same weight of dried fruit as she suggests, but in different ratios so only a small amount of currants against the less bitter and plumper raisins and sultanas. Cherries tend to be left whole and at least four times the amount she suggests. Brazils, only roughly chopped, instead of almonds. Far more spices.

Oh, and instead of leaving fruit overnight to soak in 3 tablespoons of brandy, I tend to chuck about a third/half a bottle in and just keep stirring it until I get round to making it. This year I put the fruit in to brandy to soak before going to Belfast show, and finally got round to making the cakes this weekend.

Apart from that, I follow the recipe almost exactly ... :-) ;-)

M.

must admit i jiggled it a bit to lol. definately more brandy...

Thanks Astarte, I think I'll give that a go, something to keep my mind occupied on these dark nights!

i love baking, i find it really relaxing. and making it it smells like christmas has come early

Thanks Astarte.....I'm going to do mine later today - you've inspired me!
I usually do Christmas puddings, and indeed they are finished and busy getting tasty in a cool dark place, but I haven't made proper Christmas cake before. I'll let you know how it goes....or I might fib if it's a disaster! ;-)

lol honestly they are easy.

I usually make Delia's Christmas cake and it always turns out well but this year I've tried a different recipe from this months Good Food mag. I made it last week and it was easier to make, cooked quicker and is much lighter, just hope it tastes as good!