I've been making Christmas Cake for about 30 years (OMG, shouldn't have admitted that!) and I don't think I have ever had a cake come out with such a flat top and perfectly browned all over. There is a little bit of cracking but that is all the better for feeding it with brandy ;) I can only put this miracle down to my new oven, it does seem to have a really even temperature and bakes really well, which is why I love it so much.
I haven't used the same recipe for 30 years, but I have used this, throw it all in a pot, recipe for about 10 years,except for the year I made Nigella's Chocolate Christmas Cake, it is quick, easy and you get a lovely moist cake.
I used to make a big square 9" cake as well as this round 8" cake, but we may still be eating this one in February so goodness only knows when the big one would get finished!
Mmmm, can't you just smell all those Christmassy spices?What was that you said? Oh, you want the recipe, you can find it here
Oh Janice... a lovely cake and (something I'm a little bit more jealous of) a lovely oven! My oven is dreadful - a tray of cheese straws were raw on one side and burnt on the other. I SOOOO want a new oven... and a new hob....I might try that cake recipe even so - if I kept turning it. Do you think opening the oven door that might cause it to fail, though?
Wendy - my previous oven was very hot, I have a brown paper collar around the tin to help keep it cooking evenly and baking parchment over the top with a hole in the top to let the steam out. I think if you can leave the cake alone long enough to 'set' you could turn it okay.
Chele - It will be a simple bought fondant covered cake decoration. I haven't thought about what will go on top, but will blog when I do it.
How fab is that cake! Which prompts me to make one - yes ovens can be very testing when baking (I'm not a great baker) and mine is hotter one side than the other so I have to remember to turn during cooking. Can't wait to see the finished decorated cake (esp with your creative skills!)
I love to read your comments and try to reply when I can. I have had to enable comment moderation due to high levels of spam, so it may take a little time before your comment is visible. Please let me know if you make one of my recipes or if you have any questions I will try to answer them. Janice
That cake is a triumph! I am very envious!
ReplyDeleteOh Janice... a lovely cake and (something I'm a little bit more jealous of) a lovely oven! My oven is dreadful - a tray of cheese straws were raw on one side and burnt on the other. I SOOOO want a new oven... and a new hob....I might try that cake recipe even so - if I kept turning it. Do you think opening the oven door that might cause it to fail, though?
ReplyDeleteThat does indeed look like the perfect Christmas Cake, how will you be decorating it (thats the nosey parker coming out in me!!!)
ReplyDeleteWell done - looks perfect!
ReplyDeleteWendy - my previous oven was very hot, I have a brown paper collar around the tin to help keep it cooking evenly and baking parchment over the top with a hole in the top to let the steam out. I think if you can leave the cake alone long enough to 'set' you could turn it okay.
ReplyDeleteChele - It will be a simple bought fondant covered cake decoration. I haven't thought about what will go on top, but will blog when I do it.
Thanks for all the lovely comments XXX
How fab is that cake! Which prompts me to make one - yes ovens can be very testing when baking (I'm not a great baker) and mine is hotter one side than the other so I have to remember to turn during cooking. Can't wait to see the finished decorated cake (esp with your creative skills!)
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas cake looks lovely. It is a great recipe that you have used too.
ReplyDelete