It's party time! No matter which part of the world you are in, if you are celebrating Christmas there are certain traditions that you follow no matter what. Baking is one such tradition and it is almost synonymous with Christmas. So have you decided on the center piece for your Christmas party? Here is a quick and easy Christmas cake recipe that can be made without the soaking fruits or making preparations weeks ahead.
One thing I love about this recipe is there is no ' take 2 bowls, mix the dry ingredients separately / even sifting it /nor there is need for a cake stand mixer.' The only thing you need is to keep the ingredients ready. How easy is that? In the city where I live, in India it is not possible to get most of the ingredients and to top it all there are frequent power cuts. But I just wanted to bake this cake. Out of fear that the power may go off in between baking I thought it better to bake it in a cooker. So if any of you face the same situation go for the cooker method else enjoy cooking in the oven.
Go ahead and make this easy and delicious Christmas cake. You will have lots of time to spare. Spend it with your family and friends.
Go ahead and make this easy and delicious Christmas cake. You will have lots of time to spare. Spend it with your family and friends.
Merry Christmas ! May you bring alive old traditions or make new ones this year !
Easy Classic Christmas Cake
INGREDIENTSEasy Classic Christmas Cake
Adapted and tweaked from Nigella Lawson's Christmas Kitchen
(Printable Recipe)
Chopped Dates - 350 g * See notes 1
Mixed Dried nuts and tutti fruiti (candied fruits) - 250 g * See notes 2
Dried Black currants - 25 g
Honey - 175 ml
Strong Coffee - 125 ml * See notes 3
Orange juice - 1 1/2 orange
Mixed spice - 1 tsp* See notes 4
Cocoa - 2 tbsp
Unsalted Butter - 175 g at room temperature
Dark Brown Sugar - 175 g* See notes 5
Eggs - 3
Plain Flour - 150 g
Ground Almonds - 75 g* See notes 6
Baking Powder - 1/2 tsp
Baking Soda - 1/2 tsp
METHOD
Preheat the oven to 150 degree C. * See notes 7 on how to bake in a pressure cooker
Prepare a 20cm x 9cm deep round cake tin by lining it with baking
parchment at the bottom and sides. The sides should have parchment double the
height of the tin to allow the cake to rise well.
Boil 125 ml water and put 3 tsp instant coffee powder. Keep aside.
Keep the dates and mixed dry fruits ready. I used walnuts, cashew
nuts, tutti fruiti, raisins.
In a non stick wide saucepan put in all the dates, mixed dried
nuts, raisins, tutti fruiti, sugar, coffee, spice powder, orange juice
and butter on medium flame and stir. Simmer it for 10 minutes. Let stand till
it cools down a bit for about 15 -30 minutes.
Add in the beaten eggs, flour, ground almonds, baking powder,
baking soda and stir well with a wooden spatula.
Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin. Place it in the oven
to bake for 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. The center of the cake
will be a little gooey but firm on the sides. The top of the cake will be
glossy.
Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the tin. It will
take some time to really cool down.
Remove from the tin and enjoy!
This cake can be stored in an airtight container for almost 2
weeks.
Cooking notes:
1.Substituted prunes with dates.
2.The actual recipe calls for 250 g raisins but I wanted that crunchy bite in between so added a mixture of walnuts, raisins and tutti fruiti.
3. Substituted Tia maria with strong coffee. Added 3 tsp instant coffee powder to 125 ml of hot water and let cool.
4. For the mixed spices, I ground cinnamon, clove and a piece of nutmeg together.
5. I did not have brown muscavado sugar so added dark brown sugar.
6. Almond flour is not available here so I blanched almonds, removed their skin, dried them on a kitchen towel. Then ground them to a powder. (Just pulse it 3-4 times till they look like sand else it will become a paste).
7. To bake the cake in a cooker first preheat the cooker (without any water) for 5 minutes on high flame. Reduce the flame to low after 5 minutes or until you place the cake tin in it. Place a ring or small flat tumbler in the cooker to place the cake tin. Place the cake tin in the cooker and close the lid with the gasket. Do not place the weight/whistle/ pressure regulator. Bake in the cooker first on high flame for 5 minutes then medium flame for 5 minutes. Then low flame till the cake is done. It will take the same time as in the oven ie approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on the flame size. Remove from the cooker. And let cool.
1.Substituted prunes with dates.
2.The actual recipe calls for 250 g raisins but I wanted that crunchy bite in between so added a mixture of walnuts, raisins and tutti fruiti.
3. Substituted Tia maria with strong coffee. Added 3 tsp instant coffee powder to 125 ml of hot water and let cool.
4. For the mixed spices, I ground cinnamon, clove and a piece of nutmeg together.
5. I did not have brown muscavado sugar so added dark brown sugar.
6. Almond flour is not available here so I blanched almonds, removed their skin, dried them on a kitchen towel. Then ground them to a powder. (Just pulse it 3-4 times till they look like sand else it will become a paste).
7. To bake the cake in a cooker first preheat the cooker (without any water) for 5 minutes on high flame. Reduce the flame to low after 5 minutes or until you place the cake tin in it. Place a ring or small flat tumbler in the cooker to place the cake tin. Place the cake tin in the cooker and close the lid with the gasket. Do not place the weight/whistle/ pressure regulator. Bake in the cooker first on high flame for 5 minutes then medium flame for 5 minutes. Then low flame till the cake is done. It will take the same time as in the oven ie approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours depending on the flame size. Remove from the cooker. And let cool.
Here is a list of other goodies that you can make this Christmas
Wow the cake looks real yummy dear...a true classic cake!!
ReplyDeleteWow super duper cake can feel christmas already seeing all the yummy bakes!
ReplyDeleteDelicious cake...must say it looks very X-massy!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are right no celebrations are complete without the Christmas cake. Such a delicious looking cake must have been super hit.
ReplyDeleteDeepa
I love christmas cakes but i am the only one who loves it as crazy so not making this year palnning to make something else. Unless if my greed and love for a traditional cake take over. This looks so good.
ReplyDeletecake looks fantastic n wonderful clicks too.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully baked cake.. looks tempting.. thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDelete