If you celebrate Christmas then a traditional Christmas cake is probably part of your holiday celebration. And that means preparations should already be under way to get it baked. Many people start making their cake as early as September.
Use only the best ingredients otherwise all your efforts are wasted; the cake just won't taste as good as it should no matter how much time it has had to age.
Make your fruit cake according to your preferred recipe. Each country and region tends to be different. When the cake has cooled, wrap it in cheese cloth and start the aging process. Using a good quality Brandy, slowly pour about an ounce over the top of the cake so that it soaks in. Put the tin in a cool dark place.
Every two weeks, turn the cake over and pour over another ounce of Brandy.
A few days before Christmas add your marzipan and icing topping.
You don't have to use Brandy, some countries it's traditional to use dark rum, others' cherry brandy. Whatever you use, make sure it is good quality. While I suggest an ounce measure, it depends upon the size of the cake. The larger the cake, the larger the measure to use.
RSS