I’ve been using this easy Christmas Cake recipe my Mum gave me for over five years now and it’s hands down the BEST Christmas Cake recipe you will ever try!
I’d always been a little intimidated when it came to making Christmas Cakes, I think it was a combination of so many ingredients and the length of time these cakes can take to bake. However this Christmas Cake recipe changed all of that and each year I make a minimum of six of these little gems to give to family and friends.
If I’m feeling super organised I start making my Christmas Cakes around the end of October and then wrap them in baking paper and foil and store in a dark cupboard until Christmas. The advantages of doing this is not only do I feel calmer in the lead up to Christmas, but the flavour in this cake continues to develop after it has been made. However don’t be alarmed if you haven’t started making Christmas Cakes this year, this cake still tastes amazing when cooked and eaten within a couple of days.
My Tips for Baking this Christmas Cake Recipe:
- Use room temperature eggs
- Create a small indent in the top of your cake to ensure it rises evenly and has a flat surface.
- Check on your cake regularly (through the oven door – don’t open it!) and if you feel it’s browning too much, place a piece of foil over the top of your cake earlier.
- If storing your Christmas Cake, you can use the baking paper from the tin to wrap it and then cover it with foil.
- This also makes one large cake, I use a 20cm square tin and the cooking time is around 2 ½ -3 hours.
- This cake is also freezer friendly.
Easy Christmas Cake Recipe
Equipment
- 2 x 15cm square cake tins
- baking paper
Ingredients
- 1 kg dried mixed fruit
- 1 cup blanched almonds – roughly chopped 140 grams
- ⅔ cup sherry/brandy or orange juice
- 250 g butter softened
- 1 ½ cups brown sugar 240 grams
- 2 tablespoons strawberry jam
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups plain flour 300 grams
- ½ cup self raising flour 75 grams
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon mixed spice
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Place the mixed fruit, chopped almonds and sherry into a container and give it a good stir to ensure all the fruit and almonds are coated with sherry. Place a lid on the container and leave for 24 hours.
- When you are ready to make your Christmas cake, line the base and sides of 2 x 15cm cake tins with baking paper and preheat your oven to 160 degrees.
- Sift the flours and spices together into a bowl and set aside until needed.
- Place the softened butter and brown sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer and mix for 5 minutes or until the mixture is light and fluffy.
- Add the strawberry jam and vanilla extract and mix for a minute to combine.
- Add the eggs one at a time making sure you mix each egg in well before adding the next. If your mixture starts to split, add a spoonful of your sifted flours to it.
- With your mixer on a very low speed (or alternatively you can do this step by hand) add the fruit and flour mixture alternatively and mix until combined.
- Pour the mixture into your prepared tins and lightly smooth the surface. I like to create a small indent in the centre of the cake (no more than 5mm) to ensure a flat surface. You can also decorate your cake with almonds at the point if you wish.
- Place your cakes in the oven and set the time for 1 ¼ hours. When the timer goes off, place a piece of foil over the tops of your cakes to prevent them from over browning. Test your cakes and cook for a further 20 minutes or until soft crumbs appear when testing with a skewer.
- Remove your Christmas cakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the tin, simply wrap them in a tea towel.
- Once the cakes are completely cool, cut and enjoy!
Thermomix Instructions
- Place the mixed fruit, chopped almonds and sherry into a container and give it a good stir to ensure all the fruit and almonds are coated with sherry. Place a lid on the container and leave for 24 hours.
- When you are ready to make your Christmas cake, line the base and sides of 2 x 15cm cake tins with baking paper and preheat your oven to 160 degrees.
- Place the butter into the Thermomix and mix for 30 seconds on speed 3. Scrape down the sides of your Thermomix bowl and mix again for 10 seconds on speed 3.
- Add the brown sugar to your Thermomix bowl and mix for 30 seconds, speed 4.
- Scrape down the sides of your bowl and add the vanilla extract and strawberry jam and mix on 30 seconds, speed 5.
- Add the eggs and a tablespoon of flour one at a time into your Thermomix bowl and beat for 5 seconds on speed 5 each time.
- Add the remaining flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and mixed spice to your Thermomix bowl and mix for 20 seconds, speed 5.
- Add the soaked Mixed Fruit and gently fold through using your spatula.
- Pour the mixture into your prepared tins and lightly smooth the surface. I like to create a small indent in the centre of the cake (no more than 5mm) to ensure a flat surface. You can also decorate your cake with almonds at the point if you wish.
- Place your cakes in the oven and set the time for 1 ¼ hours. When the timer goes off, place a piece of foil over the tops of your cakes to prevent them from over browning. Test your cakes and cook for a further 20 minutes or until soft crumbs appear when testing with a skewer.
- Remove your Christmas cakes from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the tin, simply wrap them in a tea towel.Once the cakes are completely cool, cut and enjoy!
Jessica @ Sweetest Menu
Wow Lauren, this Christmas cake looks perfect – even better than the store bought ones!
Sasha @ From the Left Field
This looks so good! And straightforward. My kind of recipe ha ha ha. I love me a good fruit cake, can’t wait to try this! x
Erika @ Ever-changing Life of a Mum
I’ve never made a fruit cake at Christmas as I always thought it was too difficult and time consuming, but I think I could actually make this one!
Medeja
Looks yummy! I love such Christmas fruit cakes 🙂
mummywifeme
That cake looks absolutely perfect. I’ve never made a Christmas cake before. I might try one this year 🙂
EssentiallyJess
I haven’t done a Christmas cake this year. I meant to, but just ran out of time. Usually I soak all the fruit. Maybe I could try this instead.
HUgzilla
YUM! I love Christmas cake and this looks divine.
Lauren
Thanks, merry Christmas!
Denyse
That looks awesome. I am glad it is a recipe handed down from your mum. That’s what cooking should be about, especially at Christmas time. I used to make Christmas cakes as did my late mum. I’ve made complicated ones and boiled fruit cake versions. I did enjoy eating some of them but more than anything, I liked giving them away. Enjoy your giveaways too! Merry Christmas eating.
Denyse #teamIBOT
Lauren
That’s right, it’s all about the family recipes at Christmas. Merry Christmas to you 🙂
Glenda @ Healthy Stories
Yum! Christmas cake was always one of my favourite things and I used to make one every year. Lately though I’ve been making panforte, which is a bit less cake but still the fruit and nuts.
Lauren
I love panforte, it’s been on my Christmas baking wish list for years!
Nicole @ The Builder's Wife
That looks so easy! I have never made a Christmas cake, not sure why, though I do love the Christmas pudding we make as a family each year. I’ll be sure to give this cake a try!
Lauren
This is a great recipe to start with, I hope you enjoy it 🙂