English Christmas Cakes

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Christmas cakes in England are highly respected. For example, English Christmas pudding dates back to the 14th century. It was originally prepared with boiled beef or mutton flavored with raisins, blackcurrants, prunes, wine and spices. It was called "frumenti". Over the years, however, frumentito was transformed into plum pudding, thickened with the addition of bread crumbs, eggs and dried fruits. To get its specific flavor, "ale", an English light beer, was added.

In 1714, George I liked the dessert very much, he declared it part of the Christmas food. The pudding was mixed with small pieces of dried fruit: carrots, orange peel, raisins, almonds, etc., which were added to the meat to keep it longer. According to legend, the same mixture was used to make elongated pieces placed in the manger in Bethlehem when Christ was born. Today, however, meat is not put.

English Christmas pudding contains more than 13 ingredients. According to tradition, each member of the family should take an active part in stirring the pudding with a wooden spoon from east to west in honor of the three wise men who visited the infant Jesus. During the kneading, everyone should think of a wish.

Be careful - the pudding is prepared on the twenty-fifth Sunday after St. Trinity, as it takes him 6 weeks to stay. Exactly for Christmas.

Necessary products:

For the dough: 6 eggs, 350 g butter, 350 g brown sugar, 3 tbsp. honey, 1 baking powder, 350 g sifted flour, 100 g ground almonds

For soaking: 500 g raisins, 100 g chopped dried apricots, 150 g chopped dried cherries, 100 g chopped walnuts, 100 g chopped almonds, 75 g orange peel, peel and juice of 1 lemon, 4 tablespoons orange juice, 100 ml cognac, 1 tbsp. cinnamon, 1 tbsp. ground cloves, a little ginger

Method of preparation: All products of the soaking mixture are mixed and placed under a lid overnight.

The next day, put the butter, sugar and honey in a suitable bowl and beat. Gradually add the eggs one by one, after each egg add 1 tablespoon of flour and beat with a mixer. Then add the ground almonds, half of the flour and baking powder to the mixture. Followed by a mixture of nuts and dried fruits.

Mix everything well and add the remaining flour.

Grease the baking dish and stick it with baking paper. The oven must be preheated to 150 C. Pour the mixture into the bowl and level. Bake in a low oven for almost 3 hours or until golden.

The pudding is taken out and pierced in several places with a toothpick. Pour over brandy or rum and leave in the cake tin for another 30 minutes. When completely cooled, wrap tightly in parchment paper or foil and store for 6 weeks - until Christmas. To keep it fresh and juicy, it can be opened several times and sprayed with a little rum or brandy.

Another extremely popular Christmas cake from England is:

English Christmas [gallery]

Necessary products: 125 g of butter, 1 tsp. sugar, 2 eggs, 250 ml of fresh milk, 100 g of raisins, 250 g of dried fruit (apricots, pineapple, etc.), 4 tsp. flour, 1 baking powder, 1 tsp. cinnamon, butter (for spreading), powdered sugar.

Preparation: Melt the sugar and butter over low heat. Remove from the oven and add the eggs, milk and some flour. Beat the mixture with a mixer, then add the raisins, dried fruit, remaining flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Mix the mixture well with a spoon.

The cake is baked at 200 degrees for 60-70 minutes. It is good to check if it is ready with a toothpick. When ready, remove from the oven, grease with butter and sprinkle with powdered sugar. To store longer, wrap in cling film.