Christmas Cake Recipe Mary Berry - A Festive Treat!

Dwy hesti

August 21, 2023

Introduction

Christmas is a time for feasting, and what better way to indulge than with a rich, moist, and fruity Christmas cake? Mary Berry, the queen of baking, has a recipe that is sure to impress your family and friends. Her Christmas cake recipe is simple yet delicious, and it will be the centerpiece of your holiday table. This recipe requires a few days of preparation, but the end result is worth the effort. So, let's get started!

Ingredients

To make Mary Berry's Christmas cake, you will need the following ingredients:

675g of mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, sultanas, and mixed peel)
2 tablespoons of brandy
250g of unsalted butter, softened
250g of dark brown sugar
4 large eggs
250g of plain flour
1 teaspoon of mixed spice
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon of freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon of salt
75g of chopped almonds
1 lemon, grated zest only
1 orange, grated zest only

For the decoration:

Apricot jam, for glazing
500g of marzipan
500g of royal icing sugar
1 egg white
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
Edible glitter, optional

Instructions

Day 1:

1. In a large bowl, mix the dried fruit with the brandy. Cover and let it soak overnight.

Day 2:

2. Preheat your oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. 3. Grease and line a 23cm round cake tin with baking parchment. 4. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy. 5. Gradually beat in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. 6. Sift the flour, mixed spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt into the bowl, and stir until well combined. 7. Fold in the soaked fruit, chopped almonds, and grated lemon and orange zest. 8. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin, and level the surface with a spatula. 9. Bake in the preheated oven for 4-4.5 hours, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. 10. Leave the cake to cool in the tin for 15 minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely. 11. Once cool, wrap the cake in baking parchment and foil, and store it in an airtight container in a cool, dry place.

Day 3:

12. Remove the cake from the tin, and brush the top with apricot jam. 13. Roll out the marzipan on a surface dusted with icing sugar until it is large enough to cover the top and sides of the cake. 14. Lift the marzipan carefully over the cake, and smooth it down gently with your hands. 15. Trim off any excess marzipan with a sharp knife.

Day 4:

16. To make the royal icing, whisk the egg white and lemon juice together until frothy. 17. Gradually sift in the icing sugar, whisking all the time, until the icing is thick and glossy. 18. Spoon the icing over the top of the cake, and use a palette knife to spread it out evenly over the surface. 19. Leave the icing to dry for a few hours, then decorate with edible glitter, if desired.

Nutrition

This cake is rich and indulgent, so it is best enjoyed in moderation. Here is the nutritional information per serving:

Calories: 456
Protein: 5g
Carbohydrates: 78g
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 7g
Fiber: 3g
Sodium: 147mg
Sugar: 60g

Conclusion

Mary Berry's Christmas cake recipe is a true festive classic, and it is guaranteed to be a hit with your loved ones. The combination of rich fruit, warming spices, and sweet marzipan and icing is simply irresistible. This cake is perfect for slicing up and enjoying with a cup of tea, or for serving as a show-stopping dessert at your Christmas dinner. So, follow these instructions, and get ready to impress your guests with your baking skills!