Chicken bald back

[Angie]

I have 4 large mixing bowls full of dried fruits soaking in .... shhh......alcohol waiting to be turned into Christmas cakes. I try to soak for a good 24 hrs before making.

I am doing 2x 7 inch , 1 x8 inch and a 10 inch cake.

The kitchen smells divine . And it is all covered while it soaks.

It is really hard work at this time of year to get everything done in time, the tree fruits ripening and needing preserving, the cakes so they are matured , The jams and chutneys, mincemeat, with the Christmas puddings later, and then all our birthdays to fit in before Christmas. It always feels like the madness starts now and doesn't stop till well into the new year ( well March actually)

What I would like to know is , I want to make a cake for myself, something a bit different. But it can't have any booze in any shape or form , nor any grapes, ( currents, raisins or sultanas) Due to allergy.

Has anyone got a recipe that has cranberries in ? I love the dried crasins from Costco, I thought they would make a cake a bit festive for me. Any ideas?

[Cat tails]

You can also use orange juce or any other juice to soak any fruits. My mom simmers dried fruit in orange juice, which is really nice. Prune juice would also make a nice one I think. Or maybe an alcohol free gluh wein?

 

I do use dried cranberries in (ordinary) cakes, but mostly in combination with raisins. I don't think you should add the same ammount of cranberries as you would have done with raisins. They tend to be sweater than raisins.

Edited August 28, 2014 by Guest

[mullethunter]

Blimey Angie! I feel smug and organised if I'm thinking about Christmas cake in mid-October!

[soapdragon]

All kudos to you for being so organised! Having bought the wrapping paper and cards in the Jan sales I was feeling smug......but will no more!

 

How about soaking non grapey fruit in Earl Grey tea? (Slinks off to find Xmas recipies )

[Angie]

I guess it is getting organised .. but a good cake takes 4 mths to mature.

(when I made them as wedding cakes I always wanted 6 mths notice to do a good one.)

In fact I have the first in the oven tonight.

I have tried an orange and cranberry but It sort of tasted more like a pudding rather than a cake, but I haven't soaked dried fruits in orange juice , that might go well with apricots...I think a days internet searching is called for.

[Space Chick]

Fruit soaked in earl grey tea makes for a lovely cake.

 

I love cranberries too, my favourite used to be cranberry and white chocolate chunk cupcakes

[Cat tails]

I've never tried soaking in tea, but it sounds very interesting. Must try that too!