Traditional British Christmas Cake Recipe

BY ELAINE LEMM, The Spruce

Traditional British Christmas Cake Recipe

No British Christmas is ever complete without a classic Christmas Cake to serve. Though my recipe may at first glance look complicated it is, in fact, very easy if you prepare and weigh all the ingredients, and line the tin before you start. The actual assembling part is then straightforward. 

Christmas cake must be made two months before Christmas for it to be fed at regular intervals with brandy, which helps to mature the cake. However, if you are making it later, don't worry, it will still taste good. 

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Note: If you have time, you can also soak the dried mixed fruits the night before in a little extra brandy and proceed with the recipe next day; this creates an even more moist cake.

What You'll Need

525g (3 ½ cups) currants

225g (1 ½ cups) golden raisins/sultanas*

225g (1 ½ cups) raisins

110g (3/4 cup) mixed candied peel, finely chopped

165 (1 cup)  glace cherries, halved

300g (3 1/3 cups) plain flour

Pinch salt

½ level teaspoon mixed spice **

½ level teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ level teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

300g (10 oz) butter, slightly softened

300g (1 1/3 cups) soft brown sugar

Zest of ½ lemon

6 large eggs, lightly beaten

3 tablespoon brandy, plus extra for feeding

[post_ads]How to Make It

Heat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas 2

The temperature is low as the cake needs a long slow bake. It is packed with sugars, fruits and brandy and if the temperature is any higher the outside of the cake will burn and the inside be undercooked.

1. Line a 23cm (9") cake tin with 2 thicknesses of parchment or greaseproof paper. Tie a double band of brown or newspaper paper around the outside. This acts as an insulator and to prevent the cake from burning on the outside read more about why here.
2. In a large roomy baking bowl mix the currants, sultanas, raisins, peel and cherries with the flour, salt and spices.
3. In another large bowl cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the lemon zest. Add the beaten egg to the butter mixture a little bit at a time, beating well after each addition - do not try to rush this process as the mixture could curdle. If it does curdle simply add a tbsp of flour and mix again, this should bring the mixture back together. If it doesn't come back together, don't fret, the cake will still be delicious.
4. Carefully fold in half the flour and fruit into the egg and butter mixture, once incorporated repeat with the remaining flour and fruit. Finally add the brandy.
5. Spoon the cake mixture into the prepared cake tin making sure there are no air pockets. Once filled smooth the surface with the back of s spoon and make a slight dip in the center (this will rise back up again during cooking and create a smooth surface for icing the cake).
6. Finally, using a piece of paper towel clean up any smears of cake batter on the greaseproof wrapping, if left on they will burn, and though it won't affect the cake, it doesn't smell too good.
7. Stand the tin on a double layer of newspaper in the lower part of the oven, if you have a gas oven ensure the paper is well away from the any flame, and bake for 4½ hours. If the cake is browning too rapidly, cover the tin with a double layer of greaseproof or parchment paper after 2½ hours. During the cooking time avoid opening the oven door too often as this may cause the cake to collapse.
8. After 4½ hours check the cake is cooked. The cake should be nicely risen and a deep brown all over. Insert a skewer or fine knife into the centre of the cake. If there is sticky dough on the skewer when you pull it out it needs cooking longer, if it is clean, the cake's done and remove from the oven.
9. Leave the cake to cool in the tin on a wire rack for an hour, then remove from the tin and leave to cool completely. Once cooled prick the surface of the cake with a fine metal skewer and slowly pour over 2 - 3 tbsp brandy. This feeding should be repeated every two weeks up until Christmas.

The cake should be stored wrapped in greaseproof or parchment paper in an airtight tin.

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Notes on a Xmas Cake:

• The Difference Between Raisins and Sultanas is important to the Christmas cake, as each brings something different to the cake. 
• It is very important to time the making of your Christmas cake as not only does it need time to mature, you also need to ice the cake in advance too. 
• How to Ice a Christmas Cake 
• ** If Mixed Spice isn't available you can use Pumpkin Pie Spice Mix.