Traditional British Christmas Cake with Brandy-Soaked Fruits

Name: Traditional British Christmas Cake with Brandy-Soaked Fruits
Prep time: 72 h
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 75 h
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 1½ cup Unsalted butter (350 g); 1¾ cup Granulated Sugar (350 g); 2¾ cup All-purpose flour (350 g); 6 large Eggs; 2½ tbsp Honey (50 g); 1 tsp Baking powder; 1 tbsp Pure Vanilla extract; 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon; 1/2 tsp Ground ginger; 1 tsp mixed spice; 1 pinch Salt; 1/2 cup sliced Almond; 2¾ cup Raisins (400 g); 3/4 cup candied Pineapple (100 g); 3/4 cup candied Cherries (100 g); 3/4 cup candied Mango (100 g); 3/4 cup Orange peel (100 g); 3/4 cup Lemon peel (100 g); 1 cup Brandy (250 ml); 1 tsp Lemon Zest; 1 tsp Orange Zest; 3/4 cup Brandy (200 ml); 1¼ cup All-purpose flour (150 g); Unsalted butter for greasing

Instructions

Prep:72hCook:3h

A British Christmas cake is a dense, heavily spiced rich fruit cake, copiously soaked in brandy, that takes center stage at British Christmas celebrations. This recipe for a sumptuously moist, traditionally festive cake is one that you'll be smitten with at once and forever. Easy to prepare, success lies in planning ahead and following the aging process to the letter. Like the famous German Stollen, this Christmas cake must be aged and matured for a month. The British adaptation uses spiced cake batter rather than yeast dough, which makes preparation considerably simpler. The cake is perfect for Christmas festivities, gift-giving, and creating cherished holiday traditions. This is my third Christmas making this cake. It's so moist and rich that I want to make it again and again and again. There's something so enchanting about the aroma of spiced baking, brandy-soaked fruits, wrapping, and aging. The most enjoyable part is to wrap this fragrant wonder in paper, tie it with a ribbon, and give loved ones a slice of Christmas magic. The best month to bake Christmas cakes is November. This gives you time to soak the candied fruits in brandy, bake the cakes at your convenience, and allow them to mature to achieve their complex flavor profile. The cakes "mature" for 3-6 weeks, and the longer they remain, the more flavorful and moist they become. If properly prepared, these cakes will retain their intense flavor and moistness for months, with some samples staying fresh for up to a year.

Updated at: Mon, 24 Nov 2025 18:42:42 GMT