Has everyone already made their Christmas cake?

I always make mine round about 25th September-3 months before Xmas! It’s now sitting soaking up brandy and will do until the end of the month when it will be marzipaned. I don’t eat it myself so it’s only for husband and daughter but I love the marzipan and royal icing!

Just made mine today but that’s early for me!

Stir up Sunday comes from the last Sunday before Advent.The collect of the day begins “Stir up we beseech thee ,oh Lord”

Made my cake a couple of months ago and have been feeding it with brandy. For last many years have not decorated it just left it plain used to decorate when family young but not anymore. Don't know why I bother anymore really since DH passed away as only me to eat it, still had some at Easter last year.

My fab wife has made 3 log cakes already. Christmas cake mix, covered in marzipan, then chocolated. An old Cornish tradition I think, but much appreciated in our household

I made ours today, a couple of weeks later than usual.

Davida1968

Good grief, no! This is something to think about in December.

I used to make mine in half-term week.

Gives them time to mature

Good grief, no! This is something to think about in December.

silverlining48

Ex dancer I Havnt heard the archers mention stir up Sunday yet, so there must be time.

😂😂😂

Iv made two square ones which I can divide into four and ice etc and give away.
I made aversion of Delias recipe but I added cranberries and chopped ginger to the fruit mix and steeped one lot in brandy and cherry brandy and the other lot in just brandy..both for a week.

None of my family like rich fruit cake. I sometimes make a boiled fruit cake though. with cherry pieces added to the normal recipe. This year we’re away from home so things will be very simple.

Cressy

I made mine with my two little GDs last week. They absolutely love weighing and mixing the ingredients using an oversized bowl inherited from my mother. It means that they can use their well scrubbed hands to mix it! I usually buy the ready rolled fondant icing and marzipan and then allow them to decorate it as they wish. I used to spend ages deciding how to decorate before they were old enough to ‘help’ but now I just hand them various shape cutters, decorations etc. For obvious reasons no one ever eats the icing but the cake is always delicious.

Yes I hated cooking when I was little but treasure memories of making the christmas cake & christmas puds! We used to make a wish when we stirred the mixture ( I think it could be the puddings traditionally but either).

These days I do lightly fruited christmas cake from the WI big book of baking, doesn't need long to mature, it has a week in the freezer as part of the prep. I wasn't keen on the "rich fruit cake cooked for hours" traditional christmas cake recipe, the fruit in this one is jucier because the cooking time's shorter & it soaks up just as much rum (or brandy)!

I love it but got fed up with eating the whole thing as the family aren't keen.My partner will probably give me a little one as he makes several and gives them to some of his clients, he's a cleaner and loves to treat his favourite clients.

Used to make Xmas puddings but have never made Xmas cake. My mother used to make wonderful Xmas cakes. Nowadays I buy my Xmas cakes. Still have one from last year well within its sell-by date. I may perk it up a bit with a splash or two or three... of brandy

I don't make them any more but my sister does and she gives me a huge lump. But it amazes me how late people make their cakes and puddings. I always used to make mine in the school Summer holidays to give them time to mature, just like my mum did.

I love alone so don't bother baking for just myself any more. Shop-bought Christmas cakes seem to have candied peel in them as well as alcohol neither of which I'm keen on.
If I want to treat myself to an extravagant cake at Christmas then a simple Mr Kipling Manor House cake is quite adequate.

There isn’t a lot of call for one in my family ( except for me ) so I buy one, feed it, buy a good block of white marzipan to roll and a packet of Royal Icing, which I bind with lemon juice only and frost it up. It’s usually delicious.

Love the idea of apricot brandy to soak

Don't like Christmas Cake, none of us do. Enjoy

I have made one with another one fruit soaking. I make apricot and use apricot brandy to soak. only making two for friends this year as we are away.

Just like Overthemoongran. Retired teacher but have stuck to making pudding and cake at half term. Always Delia's, never fails.

Unusually for me of late, I made mine last month. Diary note tells me to 'feed' it on Monday. Love inhaling the brandy fumes!

Shall make mine soon using a version of Delia’s recipe. For those of you who hate doing the icing, Tate and Lyle do a royal icing mix to which you just add water. Traditional in our family is to do snowy peaks so easy peasy!

Try again!

Not yet! I usually do it in October, but for various reasons haven’t yet. A job for next week!