[Lulu]

Please help - i want to make a cake for Christmas and recipe says put 2 tablespoons of brandy in it - now I don't like booze in my cake but am worried that it will be dry without it.  Can I substitute the brandy with some thing non- alchoholic such as orange juice? It is a Christmas cake but not a traditional one - its from Nigella's Feast book.  Any ideas welcome please??

[mumofstig]

I'd use 2 tablespoons of milk, just so the texture is right.....as I wonder if the orange juice would alter the flavour too much 

[Trillium]

My friend adds a few tablespoons of strawberry jam to hers instead of booze (which is what gives fruitcake its longevity). Another year she added apple jelly, which also worked nicely.

this year I gave her a lot of black currants, which she boiled down to almost a syrup and added that, which she says tastes lovely.

I don't care for brandy so I add Irish Mist liquer.

[sunshineband]

Apple juice would also be a suitable substitute for the brandy

[Debz]

Orange juice, apple juice or cold Lady Grey Tea have all been offered as suggestions for non=boozy cakes on other websites that I browse.

[Aidy]

blimey, you just making your cake! My darling wife did hers back in august and has been feeding it with brandy ever since 
We always have a good Christmas 
When you say non alcoholic, why not just burn the alcohol off? Or use something a bit fruity and burn the alcohol of that.

[Willie_Eckerslike]

Why not serve the alcohol in a glass alongside the cake at let people mix it internally? 

[Aidy]

Why not serve the alcohol in a glass alongside the cake at let people mix it internally? 

Why have cake in this first place   

[Plottered]

Cake........ whats cake HIC!  

[Lulu]

I'll go with the apple juice I think and there will plenty of booze to drink with the cake    and Aidy its not a proper Christmas cake - its a cheatin' one because I am not a proper cook but I try really really hard to pretend I am  :blink: 

Thanks for the ideas  :happy:

[Willie_Eckerslike]

Aidy its not a proper Christmas cake - its a cheatin' one because I am not a proper cook but I try really really hard to pretend I am  :blink: 

Don't worry. We won't tell anyone, Honest!  :happy:

[sunshineband]

Aidy its not a proper Christmas cake - its a cheatin' one because I am not a proper cook but I try really really hard to pretend I am  :blink: 

Don't worry. We won't tell anyone, Honest!  :happy:

Are any of us 'proper' cooks? 

[Willie_Eckerslike]

Are any of us 'proper' cooks? 

Well I'm certainly not. I never manage to do a meal the same way twice.
As long as she eats it instead of tipping it over my head, I take it as an OK. 

[chrissie B]

i dont put any in mine i just add it over the weeks up to Christmas , rums my tipple
chrissie b

[crh75]

When you 'feed' the cake, use boiled apple juice.  This keeps it all sterile.