As you know, I love Christmas and can't wait for it to get started each year! This year it begins today with the making of The Christmas Cake. I love Christmas cake and there was always a homemade one when I was younger and at home but I am surprised to say that I don't think I have EVER made one in my own home. Until now :-)
I decided to go for a fail safe recipe and turned to Delia, Saint Delia, patron saint of Christmas and more importantly of recipes that WORK. Apart from on the odd occasion which we will gloss over in the spirit of Christmas...
I won't give you the recipe, but a link to her website where you'll find it here . Delia first published this in 1978 so it's 30 this year and let's face it, it must work if she has never had occasion to tweak it. From the number of people who seem to use this recipe it would seem highly unlikely that anyone reading this would not have tasted it at some point, in someone's home, a cake shop or Christmas fete. Unless you don't like Christmas cake in which case don't bother reading any further cos today, it's all about the cake!
This is last night, as you have to add the brandy to the fruit so it can all mull overnight - aren't the colours outstanding? I love this bowl too, my friend Emma bought me it - it's actually a pasta serving bowl but it makes a great mixing bowl too. It's a pity this blog doesn't have a smell option as the combination of the gorgeous fruit and the kick of the rich scented brandy was wonderful.
It's not so much a fruit cake as some fruit with a bit of cake. As you can see from the picture below, it was totally packed with fruit and nuts. I actually did deviate from the recipe and used dark soft brown sugar rather than the paler kind - oh no! That means if it all goes wrong I can't even blame Delia! Ah well..
Another pretty bowl, this time courtesy of sister Helen :-)
The mixture was so full of fruit that it was actually really hard to stir and I strained my wrist a little - not joking!
I listened to Christmas carols as I made it (I know, a bit OTT) and it was fantastic, a little slice of Christmas in October!
mmmmm...!! There's something about greaseproof paper hanging over the edge of a cake tin that I love! Incidentally I had to buy a new tin as Delia was very firm on the point of size of tin and I didn't have a 7" square one. The only one I could find in town yesterday was in Fenwicks and cost £13.95. I nearly died.
After I heaved it into the tin I had to lick the spoon and the bowl, quelle chore and Dominic wasn't even here to help. Shame :-)
So do you want to see it, all cooked up?
GORGEOUS! Ahhhh... Christmas has truly begun. Dominic found it really dreadful that there was such a thing as baking that couldn't be eaten straight away - but a little lesson in delayed gratification is good for us all I reckon! So, once cooled, I pricked it all over and fed it some more brandy, then carefully wrapped it in baking parchment and a double layer of foil and stored it away. Only 63 days to go until I can legitimately cut into it :-) I made a square cake rather than a round one because a whole Christmas cake is a bit much for two, even two as greedy as us, so I wanted to divide it up to give some to Helen & Mark and also to Dougie and Andrea, our neighbours at the cottage where we are spending Christmas this year - bliss!
Delia, don't let me down this time!
The cake looks fab although I hate to admit that I can't stand fruit cake so unfortunately Christmas cake is a no no for me. Our Wedding cake is going to be chocolate for that reason!
Glad someone is already talking about Christmas as I seriously want to get into it. I'm sure Christmas at your cottage will be very cosy.
Posted by: Fiona | 20 October 2008 at 11:28 AM
Well your Christmas cake looks as though it will be lovely and I agree that it seems unfair to be baking, smelling and not tasting, maybe that is really why I don't like fruitcake either....you have to wait too long, cupcakes on the other hand, they are quick and tasty but then not at all traditional.....Oh what a dilemma!
Kiss Noises Linda Lilly Cottage
Posted by: Linda Lilly Cottage | 20 October 2008 at 12:25 PM
Look at you in your Cath Kidston!!!Did you cook in it or change into it for the photo?
Posted by: Helen | 20 October 2008 at 03:18 PM
I love your Cath Kiddston apron - I was looking at some of her candy stripe sheets yesterday. William wouldn't go for them though. Your cake looks scrummy - no icing? or am I getting them mixed up with wedding cakes?
Posted by: Janice Robertson | 20 October 2008 at 07:19 PM
I will be making my cake tomorrow and every year i think what a high risk it is because you make then store it, marzipan then ice it only to cut it at christmas and find that it tastes awful!!!It hasn't yet so fingers crossed for yours and mine. XXXX
Posted by: kate | 20 October 2008 at 10:32 PM
Hi Janice, you don't ice the cake until later on but in fact I am not going to because I want to eat mine plain with wensleydale cheese - it's a Yorkshire thing!
Posted by: Rosepetaljam | 21 October 2008 at 08:19 AM
Looks lovely :: Ive never made a cake either for xmas but am going to make a dundee cake this year (my mums recipe). I think I am anyways, I always think this every year and never actually end up doing it. Ok, yeah, am gonna really DO IT this year, you see if i don't , you've inspired me. now where's my xmas tunes cd.........
Posted by: Lucy @ Attic24 | 23 October 2008 at 09:41 PM