Wednesday 5 December 2012

My Christmas cake and wreaths... work in progress!


 200 g sultanas (1 and 1/3 cup)
200 g golden raisins (1 and 1/3 cup)
50 g dried cranberries (1/3 cup)
 Soak these over night in...
 120 ml (1/2 cup) Calvados (or brandy), 120 ml (1/2 cup) of boiling Earl grey tea and 60 ml (1/4 cup) port.

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225 g brown sugar (1 cup and 2 tablespoons)
225 g butter(8 oz or 2 sticks)
250 g plain flour(1 and 2/3 cups)
4 eggs
100 g ground almonds(2/3 cup)
70 g chopped nuts of choice (Brazil nuts) (1/2 cup)
1 and 1/2 teaspoon of ginger (ground)
1 teaspoon of cinnamon (ground)
1 teaspoon of cloves (ground)
1 teaspoon of nutmeg (grated)
1/2 teaspoon of aniseed (ground)

Cream the butter with sugar and spice, so fluffy, add in one egg at a time. 
Fold in the dry ingredients and add the pre-soaked fruits and nuts. 
Put into you tin of choice and line it with parchment paper, below you can see I have filled the tin to the top as it will rise only a bit.
Bake it for 4 to 5 hours hours at 135°c /275° f  (roughly - if using a wider tin you may want to check after 3 and 1/2 hours) 
To test, a small knife or metal skewer should come out clean.
Let cool down completely for a good few hours, before wrapping in foil and into a zip-lock bag.

Let rest at least three days before icing (to follow next week!)


*   *   *   *   *
 This is one of my wreaths for Christmas, using the  branches of our lime trees.  I started Sunday, but have still to finish them, there are three in all.  I like the three colours you find in the wood - brown, red and green.  I still have not decided how to finish them - it feels like it maybe a 'natural' Christmas this year...


29 comments:

  1. I didn't know that fruit cake didn;t rise. Can't wait to see the icing part. Marzipan wasn't mentioned so we will wait and see.

    The wreath is perfect all on it's own. I love natural Christmas decorating.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Chania,
      These 'old-style' fruit cakes shouldn't rise too much (just a few cm's above the tin) because of all the heaviness with the fruit and the low cooking temperature (no added raising agents either or there would be a mess!). I like a deep cake, but a bigger tin if anyone is unsure is fine too. Yes, I shall be making the marzipan and icing it with royal icing (has to be classic, to bring back the childhood memories for me!)
      Thanks, Ivan.

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  2. that cake looks absolutely scrumptious! The wreaths are beautiful just as they are...maybe a few greens but nothing more. Thanks for your sweet comment over at my place, if it sounded like I was complaining I wasn't, just busy. take care Ivan.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Joanne,
      Thank you, I shall finish the wreaths tomorrow. No, you sounded happier - I was pleased. Busy is good and that's what I am planning!! Have a good week.
      All the best Ivan

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  3. I also think just greenery in your wreath but make it just right. I love my mother-in-law's fruitcake with nice cream poured all over it.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Kay,
      Thank you for dropping in, I shall play with the wreaths later, maybe some holly. I agree, thick Devon cream and fruit cake was always about at Christmas in my family...
      Ivan

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  4. Raisins, cranberries, brandy and nuts! That's my kind of cake!!!

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    Replies
    1. Hello Terry,
      Thanks for the mail, I shall write later with Your 'altitude-altered-recipe' from my findings this morning, just a few more things to double check!! - love a challenge.
      Ivan

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  5. The wreaths look very nice. Simple and natural. Greetings!!

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    Replies
    1. Hello,
      Thank you, hope your Christmas planning is going well.
      Ivan

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  6. Scrumptious cake and lovely wreaths. I made some similar to yours, although sadly no lime trees here in upstate New York! Mine are made from grapevines with bittersweet vine that I found growing in profusion on an old train track nearby. Christmas is on its way! Hope yours is wonderful.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Linda,
      Thank you (I hope it is!!) - no, I make about the same one each year, just new alcohol this year and cranberries as I didn't want to use dried cherries. Your wreaths sound wonderful! Wishing you a wonderful Christmas also - but I hope you will be back before, lots of recipes on the way!
      Best wishes - Ivan

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  7. Yum!!! I LOVE fruit cake. My mother made both a light one and a dark one. It is one of my favourite 'eats' at Christmas. And this looks wonderful.
    And since we will not be growing lime trees anytime soon in Nova Scotia, unless climate warming is really out of control, we have used grape vines for our wreaths.
    I really appreciate all these recipes Ivan, thanks so much.
    Jim

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    Replies
    1. Hello Jim,
      It's not Christmas with out cake!! Thank you, do you have a family recipe you use? The grape vines sound really beautiful - it was so cold today (snow!)that I haven't finished the wreaths yet!! Thank you for your encouragement it means a lot.
      Wishing you a happy weekend.
      Ivan

      Delete
  8. I do have room for your cake...alas...you live so far across the ocean blue...that's OK...I can look at the pictures. The wreath would look perfect au naturel....!

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    Replies
    1. Hello Ron and Sophie,
      Sorry... I will have to mail you one next time we are in Canada!! I am of the same opinion at the moment, they need a few extra sticks to balance one side!(getting there!) Thanks, enjoy your weekend.
      Ivan

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  9. Oh I would love a nice bite!! Its so beautiful- and we think we can smell them cooking.
    And we would love to come to your house to make wreaths too-- how fun!
    love
    tweedles

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    Replies
    1. Hello Miss Tweedles,
      Thank you for coming by, Aston was smelling the cake but had to make do with a biscuit!
      Have a good weekend.
      Ivan

      Delete
  10. My Christmas cake recipe is my Grandmothers and it is a dark one. I have always wanted to make a light fruitcake and this sounds like a great recipe. I do soak my nuts in brandy and wrap my finished cakes in cheesecloth which I spray with brandy every week for 4-6 weeks. Heck by Christmas.....everybody loves fruitcake! LOL! I do have to watch what I bake now as my granddaughter has a severe peanut allergy and most nuts are processed in the same factory. :( About your wreaths, first off I have to say, "You've got lime trees?!! I'm jealous!" Your wreath is great and I too love the different colors of the wood. And hey, it's a small world; I have those exact same blue pruners! Happy creating!

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    Replies
    1. Hello Janet,
      Thank you, it's my recipe for when I forget to make the dark one!! It's still really nice. I remember reading about your Granddaughter, it must be a such a worry especially at that age. The pruners cut really well no?!! I shall finish them next week as we are off to see fiends soon and I am a little apprehensive about how my pug will behave... I promise he could give Freddie a run for his money. Have a lovely weekend with your family.
      Ivan

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  11. Hello Ivan,
    I am new to your blog and must say that I am enjoying it.
    I like the look of your Christmas Cake. Mine is sitting in the dark waiting for the marzipan stage this coming weekend. Adding Calvados is a nice idea. Maybe next time I might try that - this year it has been the usual brandy. I just fed it a little this morning in fact.
    Bye for now
    Kirk

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    Replies
    1. Hello Kirk,
      Really pleased to meet you firstly and thank you for joining, (went into your blog quickly - really good, your harpsichord is stunning). I love the ritual of feeding the cake, did mine this morning also! The Calvados is a test really (as we make it, there is a lot around!) I am hoping it is going to be alright! I shall be icing it later this week or it may ignite if I put much more in!
      All the best
      Ivan

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  12. Oh you're leaving us hanging! Ok, will have to come back to see the cake decorated and the wreaths! I quite like them au naturale....simple and charming!

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    Replies
    1. Hello Loi,
      I am so mean... (lol) OK...read lazy, I have finished two and half of them but need the third for the photo and I may change the ribbon/hanging as I am undecided!! Sorry not a professional like you - I try !! The cake will be finished later this week as I al still pouring booze in it daily!! Thank you for stopping by...
      Ivan

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  13. thanks to aina from modern country, i now find
    this space. your wreath making idea give me great
    tip and inspiration which i was already giving up
    from unsuccessfulness. thank you. i am going to
    retry wreath again.
    coco

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    Replies
    1. Hello Coco,
      Thank you for stopping by, your blog has a beautiful aesthetic to it. Happy you could find inspiration for your wreath making, I had a lot of pleasure making mine, even if they are not perfect - never give up though!
      My best wishes to you.
      Ivan

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    2. i tried it again today and come out
      pretty satisfactory. thank you!

      Delete
    3. Hello Coco,
      That is very pleasing to hear, well done for trying and thank you.
      Ivan

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  14. You are amazing. Thanks for sharing your brilliant recipe with us :)

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