New hens not going into Eglu Go Up

[squiffs]

I'm going to have my first crack at a christmas cake this year - I'm not a huge fan of brandy flavour, so I was wondering if I could substitute it for cointreau... I just thought a spiced orange cake would be a nice change and also mean I could enjoy it too.

 

Would it work? What other spirits could I use to substitute the brandy? I'm open to suggestions!

 

I'm somewhat of a traditionalist so I won't be starting to make the cake until Stir Up Sunday (20th November this year!) - the recipe says it needs 3 weeks to mature (though obviously any longer is a bonus), is there any negative point to using a spirit other than brandy during this maturing process?

[Snowy]

I put in whatever is to hand! Go for it, I'm sure cointreau would be lovely

[chickencam]

We bought some Morgan's spiced rum, today and it is lovely softer in flavour than brandy but with Christmassy flavours

[Cinnamon]

I use the Morgans Spiced Rum too - it really tastes & smells like Christmas

[LolaLayla]

 

I'm somewhat of a traditionalist so I won't be starting to make the cake until Stir Up Sunday (20th November this year!) - the recipe says it needs 3 weeks to mature (though obviously any longer is a bonus), is there any negative point to using a spirit other than brandy during this maturing process?

I have always tried to made my cake in October. I really think it needs the time to mature. I once made it in November and it just wasn't as good. So I would recommend you make it asap (although I suppose all recipes are different )

Forgive me if I am wrong but I think the "stir up" is when the Christmas pudding is made I have never made a pudding as it is only me who likes it and would be me who would eat it all

[Patricia W]

I used Cointreau for my niece's wedding cake and added cranberries, apricots and prunes to the fruit mix. I soaked the fruit for 2-3 days in Cointreau before baking, then fed it a few times afterwards.

[squiffs]

Stir up sunday is for church goers, the day when the pudding is made, yes, though I'm not a church goer, I just like to have a date by when I need to have started anything christmas related the recipe says 3 weeks is enough so I'm sure that nearly 5 weeks will be plenty of time for it. I work full time and have 2 Open University courses running at the same time so late november is the earliest I have time to spare anyway, and with a 3 week recipe I'm sure the last sunday before advent will always be ample time for it to be nice and mature.

 

Thanks patricia that sounds delicious! Now to buy some (not so?) Miniatures

[LolaLayla]

Stir up sunday is for church goers, the day when the pudding is made, yes, though I'm not a church goer, I just like to have a date by when I need to have started anything christmas related the recipe says 3 weeks is enough so I'm sure that nearly 5 weeks will be plenty of time for it. I work full time and have 2 Open University courses running at the same time so late november is the earliest I have time to spare anyway, and with a 3 week recipe I'm sure the last sunday before advent will always be ample time for it to be nice and mature.

Wow you sound so busy Hope all the work goes smoothly and you can have time to enjoy making your cake at the end of November

[squiffs]

Stir up sunday is for church goers, the day when the pudding is made, yes, though I'm not a church goer, I just like to have a date by when I need to have started anything christmas related the recipe says 3 weeks is enough so I'm sure that nearly 5 weeks will be plenty of time for it. I work full time and have 2 Open University courses running at the same time so late november is the earliest I have time to spare anyway, and with a 3 week recipe I'm sure the last sunday before advent will always be ample time for it to be nice and mature.

Wow you sound so busy Hope all the work goes smoothly and you can have time to enjoy making your cake at the end of November

 

Busy isn't the word! Hahahaha. Thanks, it's all a work in progress, time management is now becoming my hobby

[Mrs Webmuppet]

Rum or brandy works well in Christmas cake or puddings. Don't forget to soak the fruit for at least 12 hours.

[bluekarin]

The Morgans Spiced rum would be delicious in a fruit cake I made a cake a few years ago, probably the boiled fruit one on here, and I used Galliano both for the soaked fruit and for drizzling over the top once it had cooled. It was very very nice. Mildy orangy flavour and very moist

[Cinnamon]

The spiced rum is on offer in Tesco at the moment,& they have half bottles too

[quickcluck]

Sherry works too