Description
Indulge in the rich, fruity flavors of a classic Traditional Christmas Cake. Packed with a mix of dried fruits, nuts, and warming spices, this holiday treat is a must-have for festive celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, chopped dates)
- 1 cup chopped glacé cherries
- 1 cup chopped mixed candied peel
- â…“ cup chopped almonds
- â…“ cup chopped walnuts
- zest of 1 lemon
- zest of 1 orange
- â…“ cup brandy (plus more for soaking)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prep the pan: Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and line an 8-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and dry ingredients: Beat in eggs one at a time. In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. Fold dry ingredients into the creamed mixture.
- Combine fruit and nuts: Stir in dried fruit, cherries, candied peel, nuts, lemon zest, orange zest, brandy, and vanilla extract.
- Bake: Spoon batter into the pan and bake for 2 ½ to 3 hours until a skewer comes out clean.
- Cool and store: Cool in the pan, then on a wire rack. Wrap tightly in parchment and foil. Optionally ‘feed’ the cake weekly with brandy.
Notes
- For a non-alcoholic version, use orange juice instead of brandy.
- This cake gets better with age; make it at least 3–4 weeks before Christmas for optimal flavor.
- Optional to decorate with marzipan and royal icing.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 36g
- Sodium: 90mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
