Bake this traditional Christmas cake in advance and serve on Christmas Day. Packed full of dried fruit, glace cherries and regularly fed with brandy or rum, our classic Christmas cake recipe is flavourful and extremely moist.
Topped with marzipan, royal icing and decorative sugar-frosted rosemary trees, this cake makes for a showstopping centrepiece people are sure to love.
In a saucepan, combine the butter, citrus juice, brandy, sugar, dried fruit and peel. Heat gently until the butter melts and slowly bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Cool completely. This can be done the day before if needed.
Preheat the oven to 150C/130C fan. Line a 20cm deep sided cake tin with baking paper and wrap the outside with a triple-folded layer of foil.
Add the remaining cake ingredients (excluding the eggs) to a bowl, making sure to sift the flour, baking powder and spices. Stir to combine and make a well in the centre.
Add eggs to cooled fruit mixture then combine well with the dry ingredients.
Transfer the mixture to the cake tin and level the top. Bake for approximately 2 hours, testing with a skewer until it comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and piece the top of the cake a few times with a skewer. Spoon over 2 tbsp of your chosen alcohol, leaving the cake to both soak and cool completely in the tin.
Store the cake in an airtight container, feeding with 1-2 tbsp of alcohol every fortnight until you need it.
To decorate, roll marzipan into a circle the width of the cake.
Brush the top of the cake with apricot jam to make it sticky. Place the marzipan on top and trim away any excess.
Whisk the egg whites in a stand mixer until foaming before gently stirring in the icing sugar and 1 tsp of lemon juice. Beat until it’s thick but spreadable.
Place the cake on a stand and coat thickly with the royal icing using a spatula. You can make the surface smooth or peaked, depending on preference.
Dress with ribbon, sugar-frosted rosemary trees and a little icing sugar snow. Store in an airtight container between servings.
ProCook is proud to be certified as a B Corp™, joining a select but growing group of companies committed to using business as a force for good.
Learn moreProCook is honoured to be recognised as a Which? Recommended Provider for Furniture and Homewares. When you purchase from us, you can rest assured that you're getting a truly exceptional product that has been carefully crafted to meet your every need.
ProCook is dedicated to supporting our long-term charity partner's mission to inspire action to reduce single use plastics. Together, we're striving to make a positive impact on the environment and create a sustainable future.
Learn more
Electricals
Coffee
Mixers and Blenders
Kettles and Toasters
Cooking
Small Appliances
Cookware & Bakeware
Pots and Pans
Cookware sets
Speciality Cookware
Baking
Roasting
Knives
Knife Sets
Single Knives
Knife Accessories
Tableware
Single Items
Dinner Sets
Serveware
Table Accessories
Kids tableware
Drinkware
Hot Drinkware
Cafetieres and Teapots
Drink Accessories
Accessories
Kitchen Utensils
Tools and Gadgets
Storage
Cleaning
Summer
Picnicware
Alfresco dining
Accessories
Offers
Clearance
Gifting
Gift Cards
