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I am very proud of myself. I a m making my very first Christmas cake.

It is making me feel very grown up!

I have my fruit soaking. I know it is a bit late but next year I will be more prepared if this goes well!

it is a Mary berry recipe so I have high hopes! The sherry is soaking into the fruit as we speak. Tomorrow is th3 big day so fingers crossed for me!

Sam is 21 on Friday and I am suddenly aware that I have vwry few Christmases left with her before she will be with a partner or having her own plans. This I think is what made me realise I have never made her a Christmas cake. I used to look forward to my mums and esp my grans when she was alive.

I am gettingall sentimental! l am really looking forward to making it .

What recipe do you use for your cakes? Is it a family one or a well known chef?

I will look mine out for you.I always made a Christmas cake my daughter makes the puddings and mincemeat.

Well done Jane, I haven't made a christmas cake in years, I followed my mum's recipe, chuck everything in and hope for the best do877

My mum always made our Christmas cakes, until she was not well enough to do it anymore, a couple of years ago. I did not carry on making the cakes as I cannot eat the cake, as I cannot swallow the fruit. I normally buy a small Christmas cake from M&S.

I use the recipe from my dear Mum's Be-Ro book - I make the mix and divide it into two smaller tins, then decorate the two cakes the same - one for me n one for Bruv n Sis-In-Law.

I have made mine as late as the week before Xmas one one occassion !

I buy my flour etc from Aldi as it is way cheaper than Tesco's the last time I bought it in Tesco's it cost nearly £22 .... in Aldi ... just a few pence over £14

My grans Christmas cake would last for months and months after Christmas. Mainly because she cut it so thin you could see the plate pattern through it! It was delicious though. The icing was beautiful.

Good for you Jane, nothing like the satisfaction of making your own. I haven't made one for years, I used the Trex recipe & added variations of my own . I used to make it in October & periodically added brandy or rum.
Last year I made my own mincemeat for the first time, - delicious - I won't be buying a jar ever again!!!!

Well everyone fingers crossed for my cake!

it has just gone in to the oven. It will be ready by 9.38 this evening. Hope i don't nod off!

I will try my own mince meat next year.as I assume it needs to sit for months. I shall look forward forward to trying that.

Jane, your post reminds me that one year the Xmas cake "caught" in the oven it wasn't wasted though. We cut off the burnt bits then cut it up into small pieces and froze it -we still had some left in April !

.. we did make another for Xmas

Jane, I got the recipe for mincemeat from one of Delia's progs last year, she used it straight away, as did I, although I am sure it would be even better if matured!!!!
110g currants
100g raisins
100g sultanas
110g chopped dries apricots
(I added100 g dried black cherries - dried cranberries would work too)
50g mixed peel
1 apple
75g butter
25g flaked blanched almonds
125g soft brown sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 teasp mixed spice
1 lemon (Grate the peel & use 1/2 of the juice)
100ml booze( brandy, rum, etc - whatever you prefer)

Mix all ingredients together, except the booze. Cook in a pan for 10 mins over gentle heat & stirring

Leave to cool
Add booze & mix well

Ready to use, but if you want to keep it place in sterilised glass jar & stopper tightly , keep in cool dark cupboard

Sounds yummy. I have quite a bit of the ingredients left over from the cake. Thank you I will let you know how I get on. You are lovely xxxx

It is cooked and cooling! Looks lovely. Risen slightly but not poured over the side. Lovely and brown and the smell is amazing! Very impressed with myself!!!

co900 co900
Well done Jane

co900 ))))3 Well done Jane, I can almost smell it from here ...

Love n Hugs

Liz xx

Well done jane!!!

We will be pickled eating it! I was feeding it sherry last night and sloshed the bottle . Before I could mop it up the cake drank it!

do877 do877 it will be scrummy Jane!!!