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Traditional English Christmas cake

Traditional English Christmas cake

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This is the traditional English Christmas cake recipe the recipe of which was given to me by an English friend of mine, who makes it every year.

The cake is in ounces. If you want to convert it into grams, 1 oz is 28.35 grams.

Christmas Fruit cake image

To make the Traditional English Christmas cake

Preparation time: 1 hour

Cooking time: 4 hours

Ingredients:

  • 9 oz plain flour
  • ½ level teaspoon salt
  • 1 level teaspoon ground mixed spice
  • 14 oz raisins
  • 14 oz sultanas
  • 2 oz mixed candied peel, finely chopped
  • 3 oz glacé cherries, quartered
  • 2 oz almonds, blanched and chopped
  • 8 oz butter
  • 8 oz soft brown sugar
  • 4 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 ½ level tablespoon black treacle
  • 2 tablespoons brandy.

Directions:

Line base and sides of an 8 inch round cake tin with a double layer of greaseproof paper, then tie a double band of brown paper, 1-inch wider than the depth of the tin, round the outside. Sieve flour, salt and spice into a large bowl. Cream butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Beat in a little egg at a time.

Stir in treacle, then flour, dried fruit, peel, cherries and almonds. Turn mixture into prepared tin and bake in a cool oven 300o F for 3 hours, then reduce oven to very cool 275o F and bake for 1-1 ½ hours, or until skewer inserted in centre come out clean.

Leave cake to cool in tin for 10 minutes, then turn it out on a wire tray; remove paper. When almost cold turn it upside down, pierce with a skewer and spoon bandy over. When completely cold wrap in greaseproof paper and foil, or store in an airtight tin.

Christmas cake icing

Almond paste

12 oz. ground blanched almonds

6 oz. castor sugar

6 oz. icing sugar, sieved

3 egg whites

Few drops of almond essence

3 tablespoons apricot jam

Directions:

Mix almonds and sugar in a bowl, then blend in egg whites and almond essence to make a soft paste. Knead until it is smooth, divide in three equal portions. Roll one piece on sugared board to an 8-inch circle. Roll remaining two-third to a strip the same depth as case, and long enough to go all the way round edge.

Spread jam on cake surface and on sides.

Place circle of paste on top of cake. Place stripe and brush sides and press firmly to join. Allow to dry for at least 3 days before icing.

For the royal icing

4 egg whites

2 lb., icing sugar, sieved

4 teaspoons lemon juice

2 teaspoon glycerine

Whisk egg whites for royal icing until they become frothy. Add sugar, a tablespoon at a time, and beat well after each addition. Finally beat in lemon juice and glycerine. To prevent the icing hardening, cover bowl with a damp cloth.

Spread icing thickly over top and round sides of cake and draw it up in peaks with the handle of a teaspoon. Leave for a day to set then place decorations on top.

Christmas cake cut image
Christmas cake picture

Traditional English Christmas Cake

Yield: 20

This is the traditional English Christmas cake recipe the recipe of which was given to me by a friend of mine, who makes it every year.

Ingredients

  • 9 oz plain flour
  • ½ level teaspoon salt
  • 1 level teaspoon ground mixed spice
  • 14 oz raisins
  • 14 oz sultanas
  • 2 oz mixed candied peel, finely chopped
  • 3 oz glacé cherries, quartered
  • 2 oz almonds, blanched and chopped
  • 8 oz butter
  • 8 oz soft brown sugar
  • 4 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 ½ level tablespoon black treacle
  • 2 tablespoons brandy.

Almond paste:

  • 12 oz. ground blanched almonds
  • 6 oz. castor sugar
  • 6 oz. icing sugar, sieved
  • 3 egg whites
  • Few drops of almond essence
  • 3 tablespoons apricot jam

For the Royal Icing:

  • 4 egg whites
  • 2 lb., icing sugar, sieved
  • 4 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoon glycerine

Instructions

  1. Line base and sides of an 8 inch round cake tin with a double layer of
    greaseproof paper, then tie a double band of brown paper, 1-inch wider than the depth of the tin, round the outside. Sieve flour, salt and spice into a large bowl. Cream butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Beat in a little egg at a time.
  2. Stir in treacle, then flour, dried fruit, peel, cherries and almonds. Turn mixture into prepared tin and bake in a cool oven 300o F for 3 hours, then reduce oven to very cool 275o F and bake for 1 - 1 ½ hours, or until skewer inserted in centre come out clean.
  3. Leave cake to cool in tin for 10 minutes, then turn it out on a wire tray; remove paper. When almost cold turn it upside down, pierce with a skewer and spoon bandy over. When completely cold wrap in greaseproof paper and foil, or store in an airtight tin.

To make the Almond paste:

  1. Mix almonds and sugar in a bowl, then blend in egg whites and almond essence to make a soft paste. Knead until it is smooth, divide in three equal portions. Roll one piece on sugared board to an 8-inch circle. Roll remaining two-third to a strip the same depth as case, and long enough to go all the way round edge.
  1. Spread jam on cake surface and on sides.
  2. Place circle of paste on top of cake. Place stripe and brush sides and
    press firmly to join. Allow to dry for at least 3 days before icing.

To make the Royal Icing:

  1. Whisk egg whites for royal icing until they become frothy. Add sugar, a tablespoon at a time, and beat well after each addition. Finally beat in lemon juice and glycerine. To prevent the icing hardening, cover bowl with a damp cloth.
  2. Spread icing thickly over top and round sides of cake and draw it up in
    peaks with the handle of a teaspoon.
  3. Leave for a day to set then place decorations on top.



Nutrition Information
Yield 20 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 685Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 13gCholesterol 62mgSodium 269mgCarbohydrates 122gFiber 4gSugar 99gProtein 9g

"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."

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vaibhav

Friday 11th of October 2013

Hi, Your Traditional Christmas Cake recipe is unique and easy to make. I like your blog it's very interesting. Love this delicious English Traditional Christmas Cake. Thanks For Sharing…

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