First only follow the traditional way.
Dried fruit for christmas cake.
Preparing the fruits for a christmas cake.
Fresh fruit cake this cake is a great way to use fresh fruit in the summer and dried fruit for the holidays.
Store in a cool place for up to 3 months to mature occasionally unwrapping and spooning over 1 2 tbsp brandy.
The fruits should be sliced small about 1cm or so.
The dried fruits are put into a saucepan with alcohol and brought to a simmer then left to cool and steep overnight.
Tip the fruit mixture into a large bowl and leave to cool for 30 mins.
Dried fruits add to the taste and texture of your christmas cake.
Preparation for christmas cake slicing dry fruits.
Apart from dates.
Remove the cake from the tin but keep it in the baking paper.
This speeds up the absorbtion of liquid by the fruits and makes them.
G ood combinations include raisins currants sultanas mixed peel glace cherries cranberries prunes and dates but use what you prefer.
Dried figs give crunch to the cakes and a honey like flavor and mild sweetness to the fruit cake and glacé cherries add color and texture.
Last week of november and bake the cake just one week before christmas i e.
Serve this cake accompanied with whipped cream or a scoop or vanilla ice cream and i am sure you will love it tisme.
My grandmother marga taught me the importance of fruit soaking for a great tasting cake and i think of her every year when i prepare my fruit.
Wrap with more baking paper then wrap with foil.
You need to use dry fruits when you soak fruits for the traditional christmas cake.
Soak fruits before three months of christmas i e.
First second week of september and bake the cake five weeks before christmas i e.
Both use 1 2kg of mixed fruit.
I often buy a kilogram bag of mixed dried fruit and then add a 200g bag of glace cherries.
Tie a ribbon around the cake if you like before serving.
Put 1kg mixed dried fruit the zest and juice of 1 orange and 1 lemon 150ml brandy or other alcohol 250g softened butter and 200g light soft brown sugar in a large pan set over a medium heat.
Fresh fruits may turn the cake soggy and can change the character texture of the cake.
For the cake place all the dried fruit including the cherries into a large mixing bowl pour over the brandy and stir in the orange zest.
Nigella s traditional christmas cake from nigella christmas is a rich fruit cake that can be made in advance and stored for a couple of months before christmas.
Step 2 bring to the boil then lower the heat and simmer for 5 mins.
You can use only one kind of fruit or mix different fruits together for a fruit salad effect.
Here are my two favourite christmas cake recipes.
Last week of november and mature it by feeding alcohol once a week until christmas.
Cover with clingfilm and leave to soak for three days.
Make sure that the fruits are sliced small everything except the dates.
Secondly soak fruits five weeks before christmas i e.
Dry fruits absorb alcohol or other soaking liquid better than fresh fruits would.
Decorate the cake with glacé fruit marzipan or ready to use icing.