Yes, I can't imagine it will hang around long with my Mr in the house. Yes perfect with a cuppa yum. It's my father in laws 65th in April, think I am going to make him this cake as part of his present. Mother in law always makes him her standard favourite fruitcake as his cake but I'm sure he won't mind another!
gardie,
Feb 9, 8:11pm
I also bake it for my (actually my sister's but we share cos mine are no longer here) in laws - its all they want for Christmas.
bea2,
Sep 16, 3:49am
ouch clicked wrong buton.Yes Angostura is a top line , there are others available ask at your bottle store. If you do not use it much, you can buy small bottle 200mls. I think it is expensive, but nice to have on hand for cooking or cocktails.Oh I am enjoying this page, I am making Gardies cake today will post the results
jussa,
Sep 16, 8:13am
ok ok im such a novice with all of this but. can i ask why. people start making around labour wkd if you only have to wait a few days for recipe to sit!.
griffo4,
Sep 16, 8:25am
l have got Gardie's cake fruit sitting in a plastic bag for turning the next few days and then baking l had a clean out of cupboards of all the fruit so it has mango, apricots, cherries and all the regular fruit soaking in manuka gold liqueur and brandy so l am looking forward to making this
Jussa you soak the fruit then make the cake and store it for eating around Christmas time, l hope that helps
nauru,
Sep 18, 6:43am
Yes, Angostura is expensive about $28a bottle (200ml) these days, I got mine ages ago at The Mill and a little does go a long way.To think that we used to buy it in Trinidad for a dollar when we lived there years ago, that's where I got a taste for it.
griffo4,
Sep 18, 8:28am
Bea l made up your fruit mix today and boy did it smell really nice and boozy and it is now in the fridge for 5 days so looking forward to making that up and l am making gardies cake tomorrow morning
gardie,
Sep 18, 8:41am
All you 'on-to-it' people! ! I.'d better start making my fruit shopping list for the school holiday shop!Seriously thinking about a small bottle of that manuka gold liqueur!
griffo4,
Sep 18, 9:41pm
lt smells so nice and l have your cake in the oven now, a lovely smell in the kitchen
bea2,
Sep 18, 11:58pm
reply to Jussa:-when you are making anything and especially fruit cakes, it takes time for it to mature. You never get the same enjoyment from a newly baked cake as you do from one that has been kept and the full flavours come thru the 'Keeping' process. Same as when you bake a meat casserole --It always tastes better the next day. If you are icing a rich cake , it takes a good 4 weeks to properly cool down, before icing. There are other fruit cakes that do not have to be madeand stored so long. I make a 'Boiled fruit cake" and cut it the next day , I hope this helps you and do you know, I have been baking for years, and am so enjoying this recipe page and the super things posted in here, that I have a new lease on life. I do hope you enjoy it too. Baking Gardie's cake todaysmells super
griffo4,
Sep 19, 7:59am
Bea l have Gardies cake cooling down and l will start another cake tomorrow using a different recipe and then l store them and l make a 12" square cake that has 4 kgs of fruit and nuts in it that l bake in a divider tin and end up with 4 6" cakes to give away as gifts Your recipe is sitting in the fridge and l gave it a stir tonight and it smells so nice
This place is a great inspiration for us all l love coming in to see what is being made and the best part is it is right up to date with the seasons so l am making heaps of lemon recipes at present and this page for Christmas cakes
bea2,
Sep 19, 10:19am
Griffo4can you get a divider tin or did you divide it yourself. I have a set of 12" round and 12" square tins. a set consists of 12'' 10',8", 6" and yes a 4". I have had them for years and refuse to loan them, cause they never come back sometimes and they are too hard to replace.As I said I used to make a lot od wedding cakes.I cut up corrigated cardboard boxsand lined each tin. then I used bake paper to line them again. Before we ever got baking paper, I used news print paper and plain well greased Brown paper. that was way back in 1938 years. It was so important to line the tins correctly, took ages to do , but when once it was done, you could use the linings again except the inner one.So the 12 inch cake turned out 2 inches smaller, but the icingmade it rightit is so important to line your tins right but now youcan see how much I am enjoying this page wished I had found it earlier
bea2,
Sep 19, 10:31am
Gardie :-Oh what a lovely cake and I cant wait to cut it. Smells good and looks good. Thank you for sharing.you will find that rich boozy cake very differentand I dont make it often, only special.Later in the yearI shall let you know how much I enjoyed this yummy looking cake I make an ordinary boiled fruit cake for everyday use. It is nice to have in the tin. I am sure you have that recipe if not will pass it on. happy baking to you all
gardie,
Sep 19, 6:43pm
Thank you Bea.I shall look forward to your report later.It is so lovely sharing recipes like you say, particularly when you know that they are tried and true.I also make a boiled sultana cake - we used to sell heaps of pieces in our coffee shop although it doesn't see to last long in the time sadly!I shall have to give your boozy one a go this year.I had a friend told me once that for every piece of different christmas cake you try, you get a months of happiness the next year!I love sharing my cake with as many people as I can. I also make Nigella's chocolate fruit cake - its made with prunes and kahlua and is also a particularly nice cake particulary for those that aren't quite as fussed on fruit cake.I generally make this for our Christmas Party's present game.Just like Nigella, I sprinkle it with edible gold glitter, gold stars and chocolate coffee beans.Its a hot item!I'm pretty sure I put the recipe on here a while ago for someone who asked, if anyone wants to give it a go.
griffo4,
Sep 19, 9:57pm
Bea l bought the 12" tin from Jo Seagar's web site and it comes from the UKand it comes with dividers so you can make 1 big cake or 4 cakes or 9 cakes lt is hard to explain but it is very handy Yes l remember mum lining all her cake tins with brown paper etc to make fruit cakes but with the wooden cake box l just put brown paper in the bottom and then line with baking paper l love it and l have 2 of them and use them for all sorts of things l found out about them from here l have learnt so much from here it is great to come and share and learn
Gardie l will search for that Nigella recipe l love her recipes if l can't find it l will be back to ask for it ;-))
badams1,
Sep 20, 1:22am
As we read , as we read, nice smells coming from the cookhouse. Feeling rather nicely warm myself.shhhhhhhhhh. one for the cake one for the cook.xx
jia5,
Sep 20, 2:22am
If i made my xmas cake this early there would be none left for xmas thanks to Himself. I leave it till the last minute. Not as good I know, but at least weactually get some at the right time!
jia5,
Sep 20, 2:31am
Off to have a look, that sounds great.
griffo4,
Sep 20, 4:08am
Gardie l found Nigella's recipe so off to rattle round the cupboard in the hope l have enough of everything l have most so will make up the rest l also watched the video of her making it that elliehen had put up the link for Most important l have the booze ;-))
gardie,
Sep 20, 6:21am
Warning though griffo - Nigella's is not a keeping cake - beware!If you make it, you will have to eat it.YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!Hehehe.
griffo4,
Sep 20, 7:29am
Yep l knew that Gardie and we will be eating it once it cools down, it is in the oven now and smells so nice
2eabgsev,
Sep 25, 10:41pm
Gadie could I use peach schnapps in your cake
griffo4,
Sep 26, 4:46am
Can't see why you can't use peach schnapps it would be really nice Gardie did say whatever your poison ;-))
Bea's cake has cherry brandy in it and l made that and it smells so nice and can't wait to try it
Gardie Nigella's cake is very nice and rich and hasn't lasted long everyone loves it
gardie,
Sep 26, 7:56am
Yes - I did this one year - used apricots as the main fruit - was yum.
gardie,
Sep 26, 7:57am
Pleased you like the Nigella cake - its pretty much a favourite here.
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