🎄✨ Introducing the Perfect British Christmas Cake Recipe from lovewithrecipes.com! 🍰🇬🇧 This delightful European-inspired dessert is a true celebration of Christmas, blending rich flavors, aromatic spices, and a touch of brandy for that extra festive kick. Gather your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and embark on a culinary journey to create a show-stopping Christmas centerpiece that will leave everyone craving for more.
British Christmas Cake
Total Time: 7 hours
Prep Time: 3 hours
Cook Time: 4 hours
Servings: 8
Calories: 1275 per serving
Ingredients:
- 400g plain flour
- 5g ground mixed spice
- 5g cinnamon
- 1/4 lemon, rind of
- 350g butter
- 6 eggs
- 100g currants
- 225g sultanas
- 225g seedless raisins
- 175g brandy
- 100g black treacle
- 100g walnuts
- 6g soft brown sugar
- 30g almond paste
- 125g mixed peel
- 150g granulated sugar
- 150g icing sugar
- 50g royal icing
Instructions:
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Preparation:
- Grease an 8-inch square cake tin and line it with greased greaseproof paper. Secure a double layer of brown paper around the outside for added insulation.
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Dry Ingredients:
- Sift the plain flour and spices into a large mixing bowl. Stir in the grated lemon rind, infusing the batter with a citrusy aroma.
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Butter and Sugar Mixture:
- Cream the butter in a separate bowl, gradually beating in the granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
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Treacle Addition:
- Add the black treacle and gently fold it into the batter, ensuring a harmonious blend of flavors.
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Egg Incorporation:
- Introduce the eggs one by one, beating the mixture after each addition. If the mixture begins to curdle, a dash of flour will restore its smooth consistency.
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Fruit and Nut Fusion:
- Lightly fold in the sifted flour along with the currants, sultanas, seedless raisins, walnuts, and mixed peel until evenly distributed.
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Brandy Infusion:
- Pour in the brandy (3 tablespoons) and lovingly mix it into the batter, adding a touch of holiday spirit to your creation.
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Baking Preparation:
- Spoon the luscious mixture into the prepared cake tin, leveling the surface. Create an indentation in the center to accommodate the cake’s rise.
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Rest and Rise:
- Cover the tin and let it rest in a cool place for 24 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify.
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Baking Magic:
- Place an ovenware container of water on the bottom of the oven. Position the cake tin on a double layer of brown paper on the middle shelf, and bake at 150°C or 300°F for 4 hours.
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Testing Perfection:
- Insert a skewer into the cake; it should come out clean, indicating that your masterpiece is perfectly baked.
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Cooling and Finishing Touch:
- Allow the cake to cool in the tin for an hour. Then, transfer it onto a wire rack, removing the paper carefully.
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Brandy Bath:
- Once cold, prick the top with a skewer and generously spoon the remaining brandy over the surface. Wrap the cake in fresh greaseproof paper, followed by foil.
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Aging Elegance:
- Place the cake inverted into an airtight tin, allowing it to mature for at least one month before covering it with a luscious layer of almond paste.
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Festive Finale:
- Finish off your Christmas masterpiece by adorning it with royal icing, and let your creativity shine through in the decoration.
🌟 Congratulations! You’ve just crafted a British Christmas Cake that promises to be the star of your holiday festivities. Share the love, savor the joy, and let the enchantment of Christmas unfold with every delightful slice! 🎅🎂✨
