Just taken my Christmas cake out of the oven!..........smells great!

[welshlibranr]

I always use Dehlia's recipe!.............it's really lovely, which recipe do you use?.......

[MickyMacgraw]

Its only Nov 3rd!

[NazNomad]

Never made one, but I made one of these this week, OMFG, lush or what?

http://www.bbcgoodfoo...timate-chocolate-cake

[yelenots]

I'm off to get my ingredients tomorrow! I use a 'good housekeeping' recipe - you make it all in a saucepan, not beating - its gorgeous!

[ttfn]

Hi welsh - always use the Bero one. Such a nice receipt for the type of rich dark fruit cake I like. Hope yours turn out to be as you like it. - plenty of time to pour something into the skewer holes before Christmas.

[welshlibranr]

I know Mick, but it's best made now, I'm a bit later than usual, like to get it done by the end of October ideally, will now feed it with brandy every two weeks till about two weeks before Christmas, and then marzipan and ice it!..............it'll be lush then!......

[askyourgran]

I have never ever made a Christmas cake. My mum always made one and Dad used to decorate it, it's a lovely childhood memory for me. The smell of the cake and later watching Dad and Mum finishing the cake with marzipan and icing. Now I have two sisters - in- law who make the cakes and give one to us.

[mrs.chappie]

Sounds delish!

[MickyMacgraw]

I've never been a fan of Christmas cake but must admit that your one sounds lovely welshlibranr.

[ttfn]

hi gran - had a neighbour who was a baker and he came over one December night to show me how to ice my cake properly, from making the greaseproof paper forcing bags - no nozzles - to fine writing. Yeah, right. Can't beat a nice snow scene in my opinion ;o)

[mike11111]

You can feed me with brandy every two weeks as well, and I'll be lush!!!

[sherrardk]

I'm not keen on Christmas Cake - the ones I have always had weren't sweet enough for me (and I don't like marzipan). I suppose I should start some sort of alternative tradition for the kids though (we usually have a post trifle after Christmas dinner as that's what my husband likes - bit dull though).

[askyourgran]

Thats how dad used to do it ttfn, he was a dab hand at doing the fine writing, The cake always had silver balls on it too.

[sherrardk]

PS - always v impressed by people who make their own (months in advance) and then ice it.

[ttfn]

You have just set the fillings off gran! ♥

[welshlibranr]

Oh, lovely memories ttfn and gran, that's what I'm busy creating, still make cakes for all of my kids and grandchildren, todays was cake no.1, only anothe 4 to go now!.......Hard work, but I love it!..............All be baked by the weekend, I hope!..........

[ttfn]

It reminds me welsh of my dear mum - she would make her own Christmas puds and then swap one in the post (complete with ceramic basin) with her sisters in the midlands. it was the annual competition - in the friendliest terms - to see who had produced the best pud! Imagine the postal charge these days.

[welshlibranr]

Oh ttfn, my mum always made the Chrismas puds, I must admit, they were so much better than mine, and I made the cakes, sadly, she died about 8 years ago now, can't bring myself to make the puds even now!....................so we all buy one, but I still make the cakes.............traditional!..............

[ttfn]

Thanks for the memory nudge welsh - mum used to put Black Bess Stout in her pud mixture - so long ago but it all comes flooding back.

[welshlibranr]

Oh ttfn, My Mum made the puds one year, and put them away safely, when I visited just before Christmas, she decided to give me my pud to take home with me, problem was that she couldn't find them!........We searched high, low and level!...............to no avail!............I went home without my pud!..........she found them a day later!.......in a safe place!............on the top shelf of the pantry!............the one nobody could reach!.............bless her!......Don't know how she got them up there to this day!..............

[rowanwitch]

I use a very rich wedding cake recipe that involves soaking the fruit in rum for a week first and takes nearly another bottle to feed it... made three this year one with just fruit, two with nuts looking forward to icing them...because there is always a bit of marzipan left over (I always seem to buy one more pack than I need funny that....)