The amount of times you feed you a fruitcake will depend on how strong you want the flavour to be. It’s possible to overfeed your cake, which will make it stodgy and wet. Our advice is to feed it once after it’s initially baked,
then no more than four times during the maturation period
.
How long should you feed a Christmas cake?
- It is best to feed your cake, every fortnight from when it has been baked. …
- Using a skewer, prick several holes into the top of your cake. …
- Spoon over 1-2 tbsp of the alcohol/fruit juice of your choice ensuring that the whole cake is evenly covered.
How long should a fruit cake sit before eating?
Allow them to stand at room temperature for
24 hours
, then rewrap in plastic wrap and freeze. Do not continue seasoning. Dark cakes usually take 4 to 6 weeks to season; light cakes usually take 3 to 4 weeks to season.
Do you feed a Christmas cake from the top or bottom?
It’s possible to overfeed your cake, which will make it stodgy and wet. Our advice is to feed it
once after it’s initially baked
, then no more than four times during the maturation period. Try a teaspoonful of whichever alcohol you’ve chosen before you begin feeding your cake to test its strength.
Can you feed a Christmas cake weekly?
It is best to feed your cake,
every fortnight from when it has been baked
. To begin unwrap the top of the cake, you can leave the sides covered. Step 2: Using a skewer, prick several holes into the top of your cake.
How do you moisten a fruit cake?
All you need to do is brush a little milk or cold water over the cake. Then, place in a preheated,
medium heat oven
(around 350F/175C) leave for around for up to 20 minutes or until it crisps.
What do you wrap fruit cake in?
To store for a long period of time, wrap the cake in brandy or wine-soaked towels, and then wrap in either
plastic wrap or aluminum foil
. For very long storage, bury the liquor-soaked cake in powdered sugar and place in a tightly covered tin in a cool place (fruit cakes can be enjoyed as long as 25 years this way.)
How long will a fruit cake last without alcohol?
Fruitcakes without any alcohol should be consumed
within a few days of baking
or tightly wrapped and frozen for up to six months.
What alcohol is best for fruit cake?
Alcohol:
medium sherry, dark rum, whisky, brandy or orange-flavoured liqueur
are the usual flavours for fruit cakes.
Can I wrap Christmas cake in cling film?
Yes
. For best results, wrap it well with cling film, then put it in a Ziplock bag or wrap it again with foil and store it in the freezer (usually for up to 6 months, though this dependes on the temperature of your freezer).
Can I leave my Christmas cake to cool overnight?
Can you let a cake cool in the pan overnight? In short,
yes
. Since cakes need to cool completely before frosting or adding other decorations, it’s feasible to let non-perishable cakes sit in the pan overnight.
How do you feed a Christmas cake without alcohol?
If you’re baking an alcohol-free Christmas cake you can use
a few tablespoons of orange, cherry, cranberry or apple juice
; something sweet to keep the moisture in the cake. You can also soak the fruit in tea if you prefer a less sweet flavour.
How do you keep a Christmas cake moist?
Wrap the cake in greaseproof paper or baking parchment then wrap it in aluminium foil. For storage, wrap the
cake in a second layer of foil or in an airtight tin
. You can repeat the feeding process every couple of weeks for three or four feeds.
Can a fruit cake be too moist?
If the cakes are too moist,
remove them from the container and all wrapping
. Allow them to stand at room temperature for 24 hours, then rewrap in plastic wrap and freeze. Do not continue seasoning. Dark cakes usually take 4 to 6 weeks to season; light cakes usually take 3 to 4 weeks to season.
Why is my fruit cake dry?
My fruit cake is too dry? Often,
over-baking a fruit cake
is the cause of dry fruit cakes. A fruit cake must be baked at the right temperature. The too-high oven temperature will dry the cake.
Why does my fruit cake crumble when I cut it?
Why is my fruitcake crumbly? Measure the ingredients properly, so
there a good balance of fruit to the cake batter
. Too much fruit means there is not enough batter to hold it all together. Alternatively, too much sugar in a cake batter to crumble when you cut.
