Grandma’s Xmas Cake

Some Christmas recipes feel like they belong to the season itself — rich, fragrant, and slow-cooked with all the classic fruits and spices that make a home smell like the holidays. This Christmas Cake is one of those timeless favourites.

“Grandma’s Xmas Cake” is shared by Kelly, it’s a beautifully traditional recipe that brings together dried fruits, warm spices, and a long, gentle bake to create a cake that’s dense, aromatic, and perfect for sharing. Whether you enjoy it with custard, cream, or just a quiet moment to yourself, this is Christmas baking at its most comforting.

Ingredients:

250g sultanas

250g currants

125g dates chopped

60g glace cherries chopped

60g glace pineapple chopped

60g glace ginger chopped

60g dried apricots chopped

60g dried figs chopped

60g mixed peel

60g blanched almonds chopped

Method:

Place fruit and almonds in a large pot with

250g brown sugar

1 cup water

250g butter

½ teaspoon bicarb soda

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon mixed spice

¼ teaspoon ground clove

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

And bring to the boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes

Allow to cool

To the cooled fruit mixture, add

2 beaten eggs

70ml alcohol (rum,brandy,Cointreau,whiskey)

250g self-raising flour

250g plain flour

Mix well

Pre heat oven to 130-140 degrees

Using a 20cm spring form cake tin, line with butter and flour and place baking paper on the base of tin to prevent cake sticking

Then add cake mixture and smooth surface

You can decorate with blanched almonds in a fun pattern if you like

Line the outside of the cake tin with 3 layers of baking paper so it extends above the edge of the cake tin to protect the cake when cooking

Cook for 4 hours

The cake is cooked when a skewer inserted into middle comes out clean

When cake is still warm pierce surface with skewer to make holes and slowly pour 50-70ml of the same alcohol you used in the cake mixture and allow to soak into cake

When cooled in the tin remove

Cake can be stored in a sealed cake container or wrapped in cling film and stored in the fridge

Enjoy as is or with dollop cream, custard or ice-cream

Merry Xmas