[nickyveglover]

Hi all does anyone have a good easy rcipe for a Christmas fruit cake, thanks

[mumofstig]

try this, the recipe comes from little mcdougal's recipe book given to me by mum when i married in 1969. Made every year since
 200g butter/margarine
200g soft brown sugar
200g s/r flour
pinch salt
1/2 tspn nutmeg
1 tspn mixed spice
4 medium eggs
200g raisins              }
200g currants           }     or 650g mixed dried fruit of choice
200g sultanas           }
50g glace cherries     }
Optional:-
to be added with eggs
1 tspn gravy browning (to darken colour)
Splash of brandy

Cream butter and sugar together (i use hand held beater to do this and the eggs)
Add egs 1 at a time may need to add a little flour with each egg to stop mixture looking curdled. But don't worry if it does as won't taste any different!
Then stir in everything else by hand.

Put in lined 20.5 cm round tin. Cook for 1hr at gas 4 , 180deg reduce heat to gas 1, 140 for another 2 hours, Total baking time 3 hrs.

cover with shop bought marzipan and ready to roll icing.
Add decorations as required. often just a sprig of holly if i've run out of time. :oops:

Enjoy... we always do

[nothinghasdiedyet]

This is also a good recipe.

Classic Christmas Cake

I have made 1 so far (first ever) but I used Rum instead of Brandy

[chrissie B]

my mother always used the Dundee recipe from the bero book and i still use the same one its got lots of fruit in it and we marinade it in rum till Christmas , same with the pudding ., good luck with the cake .
Chrissie b

[nickyveglover]

Thanks for all the replies will use one or two

[Poolfield2]

This is also a good recipe.

Classic Christmas Cake

I have made 1 so far (first ever) but I used Rum instead of Brandy

That's the one I use as well but needless to say after using it for 20 odd years I've tweaked it a bit. I use half and half Cointreau and brandy to soak the fruit and I don't bother with the zest.

[noshed]

I've done the Nigel Slater one for the last few years - fantastic

[chrissie B]

might try the cointreau next time .
chrissie b