Ever made your own xmas cake?

[cqueen]

I bloody love a good bit of xmas cake, but the ones in the shop are always really dry. I bought an expensive Waitrose version to make sure I had a good one.... but no.

So, I'm gonna make my own!

Never done this before, Got Delia here.

Any advice?

[hot metal]

Yes ,it was crap,dont do it.

[Simpo Two]

According to a recent Rick Stein repeat, the best pud was Waitrose. Anyway, if it's dry, can't you just throw brandy and brandy butter on it?

[FourWheelDrift]

My mum makes fantastic Christmas cakes for the family, she says using brown sugar helps to keep it moist.

[V8mate]

cqueen said:

Any advice?

Yep. Start in October.

[cqueen]

Not looking good so far then!...

[Cara Van Man]

made mine about 3 months ago....get it out every week and 'feed' it with brandy.

[diesel head]

Always make my own here is this years! Always use treacle, golden syrup and brown sugar and plenty of brandy, seems to stay moist!

[DollarTheif]

Nope.. still not feeling it..

[cqueen]

Wow thats quite a cake!

[cqueen]

DollarTheif said:

Nope.. still not feeling it..

Xmas?

[DollarTheif]

Yes. Sorry for messing up your thread with my humbug-ness.

Nice cake Btw.

[MitchT]

Nice one diesel head - love it!

Colleague of mine brought some Christmas cake which he had made to work today - gorgeous! OH has made one... My Mum makes awesome Christmas cake too.

[Chrispy Porker]

Simpo Two said:

According to a recent Rick Stein repeat, the best pud was Waitrose. Anyway, if it's dry, can't you just throw brandy and brandy butter on it?

Somerfield actually!
Followed by Aldi!!

[jessica]

As has previously been stated. treacle brown sugar and syrup. plus not forgetting to soak the fruit the night before in either brandy rum or cold tea depending on preference. then feed it with sherry or brandy. for a couple of weeks. just dont get too enthuasiastic or the icing at the end will go sloppy.

YUm..
made my own for years dont cost more than shop bought and are so much nicer. and the smell when cooking is gorgeous.

[Chrispy Porker]

Yes but it's much too late now.
Easter cake would be OK though.

[Simpo Two]

Chrispy Porker said:

Simpo Two said:

According to a recent Rick Stein repeat, the best pud was Waitrose. Anyway, if it's dry, can't you just throw brandy and brandy butter on it?

Somerfield actually!
Followed by Aldi!!

Sorry, yes, I meant Somerfield and thought Somerfield but typed Waitrose, doh.

[cqueen]

I cant wait 3 months!!

[AndyWoodall]

My other half follows the Delia recipe, its brilliant.

If you've got the time or inclination to make one, I'm not sure why anyone would buy a shop one considering how good you can do one at home.

[littlegreenfairy]

Right, you've not got much time.. So I'd suggest a basic fruit cake, but add extra fruit.

The Be-Ro cook book does a fab "boiled" fruit cake - its always lovely and moist but can be made really Christmassy quite easily. Lets face it - you aint gonna bake a proper Christmas cake at this time of year now.

Replace some of the water with whiskey, add a couple of teaspoons of mixed spice, and add a few more handfuls of fruit, glace cherries and apricots.