By yenge_aslan

Re: Unfed Xmas Cake
13 Oct 2008 23:45

Apologies if this has been asked before bt is it vital to feed a christmas cake, I am going to make Delia's xmas cake, but am making it for my family which includes children and very elderly great grandparents, consequentl I am not thrilled with the idea of feeding it with alcohol (I don't personally have any objections!!!) Can I feed it with anything other than alcohol? or can I get away with not feeding it at all? If I don't feedit when should I make it?
I hope someone can help me!
Thanks
Mary

Replies

By JoyH Yorkshire

Re: Unfed Xmas Cake
14 Oct 2008 01:54

Hi Mary,

No, it's not vital to feed a Christmas cake. Many people like a very moist cake & feed it too liberally for my taste, some I've eaten have been like eating cold Christmas pudding - claggy & sticks to the roof of the mouth, & sometimes they crumble & don't slice well.

You could make it around middle of November & feed it once with a little alcohol to give it richness & flavour (which won't harm your vulnerable guests) If you enjoy a moister cake you could feed with fresh orange juice a couple of times more before icing.

Make sure it's kept double-wrapped in greaseproof paper & foil when storing to prevent moisture loss.

By The Original Anastasia

Re: Unfed Xmas Cake
14 Oct 2008 06:52

Hpow right you are Joy, that advice is spot on.My sisters cake is never fed with alcohol as she hates the taste, so good old orange juice once or twice does the trick.
Were cakes fed years ago , I am not so sure if they were.
Anastasia

By JoyH Yorkshire

Re: Unfed Xmas Cake
14 Oct 2008 11:06

Hi Ana,

I can't recall anyone I know who fed their cakes. Going by the amount of posts on food websites there seems to be a bit of an obsession about dousing cakes with alcohol.

What I meant to say in my post above, was to soak all the fruit in sherry/brandy for a few days til it's all absorbed, & choose a recipe which contains ground almonds, that will give enough moistness without any need for further feeding. I like a bit of 'cakeiness' in mine.

By yenge_aslan

Re: Unfed Xmas Cake
15 Oct 2008 08:56

Thats great. Thank you so much for your help! Happy Baking !