Wanted - Eglu Cube Mk1 Roosting Bars

[missuscluck]

I have been looking about for a Christmas cake recipe. I got one from my mum. I dont like faffy recipies with lots of bitty ingrediants and things to do. This is so easy I dont know why I have never made one before. I also prefer fruit cake to not be too heavy. If I remember rightly this makes a lighter fruit cake. I have done mine with just water as OH dosent drink. (I do )

 

1lb mixed fruits.

1 cup of cold water (or add some alcohol of your choice)

1 cup dark brown soft sugar (or any including white will do it, up to your taste)

6 oz butter or marg

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 eggs

1 cup plain flour

1 cup self raising flour

 

Place fruit, water/alcohol, sugar and bicarb in a large saucepan. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 mins. Remove from the heat, cover and leave overnight. Next day add eggs and flour stir all together and put in a greased and lined 12" ish tin. Bake at 150 degrees for about 2 hours. Place a bit of greaseproof over the top in the oven if the top seems to be over browning.

 

This cake keeps for ever in a tin so you can bake ahead for Xmas. Im just about to go and put mine in the oven now.

 

Forgot to add, you can put in extra cherrys or nuts in when you mix in the flour if you like.

I have put some blanched hazelnuts in mine and an extra tub of cherrys.

[Jules.]

It does sound yum

[Karen & co.]

That sounds easy enough I might give it a go with gluten free flour and see how it turns out.

 

Karen x

[missuscluck]

Its done!! I have just had a slice. Obviously because it NEEDS testing

 

Here it is.

 

(I doubled the recipie) Before baking...

 

 

After.. This is the one that is going to be put away for decorating.

 

 

And this is the one up for eating now. (that slice is now gone )

 

 

The large round one took about 2 and a half hours to cook. Its very tasty.

[Jules.]

Mmmmmmmmmmm

[Egluntyne]

They look lovely and moist. *drools*

 

Will be giving that recipe a try.

[craftyhunnypie]

Mines due out at 5.25pm. I used a big bag of fruit from Aldi, some nuts & extra cherries. I put some Tawny Port in mine.

It's smelling nice! Hope it turns out ok.

I presume I wrap it in greaseproof when cool, then store it in a tin? Can I feed it more alcohol by turning upside down whilst hot, making skewer holes & drizzling some Calvados over?

 

I'll enjoy decorating this as used to have a little job in a cake decorating shop when I was younger. I left coz didn't like the washing up!!!

 

Emma.x

[Jules.]

I've printed off this recipe & given it to my mum who will make it very soon.

Re the cup sizes we didn't know what size to use, & so I gave her my 8oz American standard cup which came with my bread maker, but she thinks it looks quite small- what was the liquid capacity of the cup which you used, Linda?

[missuscluck]

Im pretty sure which mug I used

I have just measured out 300ml.

Emma, I used the Aldi 'luxury' fruit mix too. Cant see a problem with drizzling over more booze. Mine is wrapped in greasproof and in a tin as well.

Im going to make another one this weekend. The one we had for now is all gone. It got nicer the longer it was left. I have been saving small tin cans to make a few diddy ones for christmas hampers. (thanks for the tip! )

[craftyhunnypie]

It's come out beautiful - I am so pleased! I have wrapped mine in double greaseproof, then foil after I drizzled more booze over! I'll put it in the tin tomorrow after putting a bit more booze over.

Thanks for recipe - it was so easy! Will make another at weekend!

 

P.s I used American measuring cups.

 

Emma.x

[..lay a little egg for me]

Looks great! I would add a tsp of mixed spice to give it an extra Christmassy flavour. It is similar to the recipe I use...the mixed fruit has been soaking in brandy for 3 days so it really is time to get it in the oven!

[redhotchick]

Looks great! I would add a tsp of mixed spice to give it an extra Christmassy flavour.

 

I was going to say about mixed spice too!

The hairy bakers used cardamon in a fruit cake that they made in a recent programme.

I love cardamon, I think I'll try that!

[GreenGirl]

Karen - did you try it with the gluten free flour? might try it this weekend, i really miss fruit cake

[Karen & co.]

Karen - did you try it with the gluten free flour? might try it this weekend, i really miss fruit cake

 

I did and it was lovely tasted like real cake I made it once with gluten free plain flour and added a bit more baking powder, and also with rice flour, but that wasn't quite as nice, still had to eat it all though

 

Karen x/

[GreenGirl]

Perfect, thanks for testing it

defo going to try that this weekend then, it's one of those things you don't miss til its gone

 

are the weights of the flour like for like? i have never braved using it before

[Karen & co.]

are the weights of the flour like for like? i have never braved using it before

 

Yep because it only comes as plain flour, then you will need a little extra baking powder, and extra fluid as the flour absorbs more liquid than orndinary flour

 

Karen x

[missuscluck]

Karen, thats great that worked out well.

[Karen & co.]

Karen, thats great that worked out well.

 

 

Trouble is there is a down side to it tasting so nice, is that I have to eat it to make sure it hasn't gone off, I'll never get to be a size zero

 

Karen x

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I doubled the recipe too, and got a 7 in round cake for us, and 8 - well 9 actually! but I had to do a taste test didn't I? - diddy ones made in baked bean, tuna & sweetcorn tins for my hampers!

 

I made the mistake of upending a spice jar which I though contained mixed spice, but was actually cloves (!) into the mixture ! Fortunately I got some of it back out & it was still scrummy!

 

Think our Beavers will be making up a batch to sell at a Christmas fair, doesn't come much easier than this recipe! I might even be persuaded to make up another batch to swell the numbers!

 

Sha x

 

P.S. Karen what is a size zero? Sure, I'd like my 12s to be a bit more comfy - how can anyone get to zero & not starve?

[Lesley]

Size Zero is American sizing! - I think it equates to UK size 4 ?

My 10 year old granddaughter takes a size 8 - I can't imagine a size 4 adult

[missuscluck]

My mum will be thrilled that your beavers are going to make her cake wildmum. I must let her know.

[..lay a little egg for me]

I doubled the recipe too, and got a 7 in round cake for us, and 8 - well 9 actually! but I had to do a taste test didn't I? - diddy ones made in baked bean, tuna & sweetcorn tins for my hampers!

 

tuna & sweetcorn tins? What a brilliant idea! I was thinking of baking some teeny Xmas cakes as presents but didn't want to buy tins especially. Thanks for the tip Wild Mum!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Considering the fact that we rarely eat from tins, I managed to get together 11 with the help of a couple of friends. My DD would live on tuna & pasta, so we have several of those & always have willing recipients of the sweetcorn tin contents!

 

I can't take all the credit, I got the idea from my DD making them in Reception, it had never occurred to me before either, reminded I think by Christian in another thread.

 

Just have to marzipan & ice them now, have got rollout icing as I find that easier than Royal - although I forgot to check if it was made from freerange eggs , as it's from Lidl ( I got a pack to try!) so I doubt it very much.

 

Does anyone know, if I choose to put ribbon round the sides, does the ribbon colour "bleed" into the icing, or do you need special ribbons? I have never used it to decorate a cake before. Help would be appreciated...!

 

Sha x

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Bless you, bless you .

 

I usually make a Christmas cake at school with the help of the Home Economics teacher (along with other baking numpties!). She's off getting a hip replacement and ES was worrying whether we'd get a cake this year and said I had to make one .

 

I think even I could manage this one .

[Chook n Boo Mum]

ANH, when I made mine up, I melted the butter & stirred it in with all the other goodies (flour etc). I can't believe that you are as bad at baking as all that, but the fact it's not mentioned in the method may just throw you (it did me!! And I bake for England!!).

 

Good luck!

 

Sha x