I’ve used a brush and brushed over the surface. Also, my old recipe called for wrapping the cake in cheese cloth dampened with brandy or rum or whatever booze you like and are using in your cakes.
My great grandmother wrapped her cake in cheese cloth too I think she saturated the cake every year with brandy or whiskey... the cake was placed back in the cloth and tin cake pan until the next year..that cake was around for years
Hello, I'm so glad to watch your videos. can you please let me know if it matters what container to store the xmas cake in? does it have to be stored in an airtight tin? thank you in advance for your reply.
@marikoone Hi, thanks for your question. It's really important to ensure your cake is wrapped well. I use greaseproof paper and then foil. Then store it in a tin with a secure lid. Place it away from direct heat and store in a relatively cool place. Hope that helps? Xx
Looks amazing! I will do it today 🎉 hope i am not too late. How often i need to feed it given its beginning of November? After second week of December should i feed it weekly as you suggested? When to stop so it dries dor decorating it? Love your advice you're so helpful and concise ❤
@@pm5095 Hi, feed it fortnightly in November, then once a week up until you decorate. You don't need to wait for drying time to decorate, using my method. But do turn the cake over on the flat clean side and use it as the top of your cake. Hope that helps xx
This is exactly how it mum would do her Christmas fruit cakes! My mum was a baker (worked out of our home) and at Christmas she would take only a certain amount of orders of fruit cakes. She would feed the cakes (I really don't know how often but I do know she'd make the cakes in November as well) with brandy and keep them in a cool dark place. I don't have her recipe and she has Alzheimer's so I can't ask her for it. Anyway, just to let you knows I bought a fruit cake and I plan on feeding it starting tomorrow until Christmas. I'll let you know how my experiment turns out. Thank you fort your video!
Thanks for the info, I did try yesterday, the cake less taste of brandy and it's dry. So after watching ur video I will try again Tqvm for sharing this info.
All I will say, firstly dont over drench the cake, just follow my steps. Once alcohol is poured on leave for a good 15mins so that the alcohol has time to dry off. Then cover tightly with grease proof paper and tin foil and place in air tight container. It's important you dont allow the air to get into your cake. Hope that helps xx
I've always soaked my fruit first, yes you may lose the alcohol but the flavour will still be there. Think of making a sauce with wine, the alcohol will be gone but you can still taste the wine.Never had a dry cake yet but still feed my cake after baking.
Is it OK to leave the original base and side greaseproof paper on after baking? and, then, when cool wrap it in another layer of fresh greaseproof and foil or is it best to remove all original baking paper first? Have just made this recipe for the first time.
I made my first Xmas cake a few days ago. Delicious ! I used Port as I had nothing else available. Just bought a bottle of Sherry so I’ll do as per your video in a few days time. Thanks.
Cover in parchment (grease proof paper), then with aluminium foil...For extra protection you can store in a container and try to keep it away from direct heat. Hope that helps? X
Hello.. thank you for your recipe, i will be baking for the first time this cake tomorrow for my british friend wedding on july 30, my question is can i feed the cake 4 days after baking for 2 to 3 tbsp of rum, then after followed by every week until i decorate it? And its too hot here in spain now, can i put it on the fridge? Please help. Thank you
You certainly can feed your cake 4 days after baking - don't over saturate as it'll ruin those wonderful flavours already in your cake. I'd not refrigerate, just double wrap and store in airtight container, preferably in the coolest part of your home. Hope that helps and let me know how it goes xx 🙂
Thank you, such good advice. When i was a child, i recall my Aunt Betty 'feeding' her Christmas cakes with brandy, but didn't know how often. Everything she cooked was first class. Now i know and have some useful tips too.
Hello I would like find out when is the best time to start baking and maturing alcohol Christmas cakes? in terms as weeks since we are in October. please help its my first attempt
@charitykasonkomonamutambwa9639 Hi, well, October is a great time to bake your cake. Once baked leave it for a couple of days to settle. Then feed (as demonstrated in video), fortnightly up until first week of December and then weekly up until decoration or when you cut the cake at Christmas 🎄 Hope that helps xx
This! Ready made cakes with alcohol are just not good because like you said... they're not boozy enough and on top of that very sweet... so I slice them and soak the bottom, once soaked turn them upside down... I enjoy them with black coffee without sugar
Thank you. If you follow my recipe, the cake will taste amazing, whether you feed the cake or not 😊 but yes feeding the cake does enhance the flavour xx
Didn't make a Christmas cake this year as I will not be at home for Christmas so I bought one in Marks and Spencer's with brandy to give to my son. I'm slowly adding some brandy every few days until it needs to be iced. Hope it works!
Hello am new to ur channel. excited to try ur recipes.. Wanted to try alcohol cakes.. I thought I should incorporate alcohol in cake mix n u taught me otherwise.. Ty.. Wanted to know if brandy cakes goes well with lemon buttercream frosting?
Glad you found me 🙂 Personally I'd not use lemon buttercream with a brandy fruit cake. Instead I'd use a cream cheese frosting and you could even add some brandy to the frosting. Hope that helps xx
@@MysteryBaker yes.. Thank u so much.. I am a beginner and have a huge interest in baking.. And I will be following ur recipes.. I have lemon curd stored so thought of incorporating in any of the alcohol cakes
@@trivenireddy7262 Have a look at my beautiful lemon drizzle cake recipe, I'm sure you could use some of your yummy lemon curd in a buttercream to go with the cake. So happy you are baking, it's such a wonderful hobby. Happy Baking 😊 xxx
Soaking the fruit helps plump them up and can prevent them from burning in the baking process. If you dont want to use brandy you can use 3 to 4 tablespoons of orange juice. X
Hi Stanley, there are numerous alcohols that can preserve cakes, just remember what ever you choose, it will alter the taste. You can use brandy (as I have), whiskey, rum, amaretto etc. Its your choice. Hope that helps.
Hi would you recommend using brown parchment paper to line tin and the outside, or white greaseproof paper inside and brown paper on outside. What's the difference please
This is a very good tutorial! I got a late start making my fruitcakes as in two days ago. They are basically American style but I make mine very similar to British style except we don't use marzipan and fondant which I love. I have them wrapped in cheesecloth and then plastic wrap. My question is as follows: do you think I can lightly coat them with brandy every four days until Christmas or just once per week. I wish I would have made them earlier. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
It's never too late to make Christmas cakes 😊 I would feed your cake twice a week up until you're ready to cut at Christmas. As my tutorial suggests, don't over saturate - but as you've baked them a little later, it will be fine to feed twice a week over the next 2 weeks. Hope that helps? X
If you add brandy, it will have a brandy taste, but if you follow the steps and don't overload and just do it weekly up until Christmas it will be lovely x
Hi Usha 👋 Yes you certainly can, but I would suggest you don't feed too early and instead just start 4 weeks before the cake is to be eaten. Simply because orange juice will deteriorate quicker than alcohol. Hope that helps? 🙂
A family member shared a slice of traditional Christmas cake with me that he made over a year ago this past week and it was delicious I believe it was an Alton brown recipe can I make a cake similar to this and have very similar results for Christmas time or must I wait a whole year at next year’s Christmas to have results?
Hi Jeff, this particular traditional Christmas cake has been known to be eaten a year or 2 years later. It's the alcohol that acts as a preservative. However, I can promise if you follow my recipe and then continue to feed the cake up until December, you will have the same majestic results without having to wait a year 😊 Hope that helps xx
Going to make my cake this weekend. Starting to get hot in Australia - once I have wrapped my cake and placed in a tin - should I put the cake in the fridge?
Oh wonderful, please keep me posted on how it turns out. I'd not refrigerate this cake. The feeding of the cake with Brandy, acts as a preservative. Just ensure its wrapped doubly tight and placed in an air tight container and placed in the coolest part of your home. Hope that helps? Xx
For some reason your message was redirected as possible spam, so I've just read your message - Start as soon as you can and I would feed the cake daily upto the date you need to decorate x Hope that helps? x
and what about after brushing the cake with brandy is it necessary to put in chiller to wait for the next brandy application ? or if its not nescessary to put in ref. will it not be spoiled until the day u eat it?
You can certainly brush the cake with brandy if you wish. I sometimes brush with Brandy, just before I decorate. If you are living in a very humid climate then you could refrigerate, but I'd suggest you make you cake later (eg 4 weeks before cutting). Wrap tightly and double wrap if refrigerating. I keep my cake in a cooler part of the house and away from direct sunlight and it's always perfect to eat. Hope that helps x
How wonderful that you're baking your daughters wedding cake. You can bake the cake at the end of July or beginning of August. Feed weekly up until you decorate. I hope that helps you? ❤
@@karendavies2768 when stacking tiered cakes, I'd always suggest using dowels. It will help if cakes are in transit and you don't want anything to go wrong, for the special day xx
I am on the verge of overfeeding my very first Christmas cake with brandy because I thought that was best for flavour. But I’m so glad I found your video before I ruin my hard work! Thank you for sharing these really practical tips and what you said made full sense! Now I’m excited for the big reveal at Christmas 🎄
Awwww thank you for your lovely comment and I'm so glad you avoided disaster and am pleased to know, you'll now be enjoying the wonderful flavour of your cake xxx
Thank you for this video.i baked mine 3 weeks ago its becoming soggy i closed it with clingwrap can i change it to baking paper as yours.i cling wrapped it and put 3 plastics please help
Hi Joyce, I hope I'm understanding your question. I'd not use clingfilm or cling wrap as it can make the cake sweat. What I'd suggest you do is, leave the cake open for a good hour to dry a little then re-cover it in greaseproof paper. The paper allows the cake to breathe. Then place over the greaseproof paper a roll of foil to stabilise the temperature. Hope that helps you? Xx
Hey, I just baked a christmas cake like today the reason being is that I have never had christmas cake before in my childhood as I wasn't a fan of dried fruits. I am more open to them nowadays. And so I had no idea that christmas cakes were supposed to be prepared weeks in advance. I thought it was like the day before. So, rather than have it on christmas day. I have said to my family that we'll have it for new year's. My question is how many times can I realistically feed the cake this week without oversoaking it and making it too stodgy?
Thanks for the video and great advice. I've made my cake today, so later than I normally make it. It doesn't seem as moist around the sides and top as usual, so I'm hoping it's ok. Am I ok to feed it with brandy weekly until Christmas and can I start to do this at the weekend?
Hi Lorraine, yes I'd start Saturday and feed it weekly up until Christmas. If you are decorating the cake or adding marzipan, you can also brush brandy all over the cake about an hour before you decorate, it'll just add a final bit of 'Pizzazz' to the cake! Hope that helps? Xx
@@MysteryBaker Thank you 😁 I'll definitely do that, I love a bit of extra "pizzazz"! I hope you manage to have a good Christmas under current circumstances. Thanks again for the advice xx
Hi, can I wrap the cake In an aluminium foil first followed by the baking paper? My aunt used to keep her fruit cakes in big biscuit tins. Is that ok? Her cakes were great by the way. She is 80 plus and doesnt make those types anymore.
Wonderful that you have fond memories of your aunts baking 🥰 It's entirely upto your own preference. The reason I put the paper first, is that paper allows the cake to breath. Then I cover with foil and the foil stabilizes the temperature and keeps the cake cooler. Happy Baking 🥰
Thank you so much. Come to think of it, I recall my aunt had the paper first too.. Her daughter wasnt happy and enquired about it.. cant remember what my aunt told my cousin. Thank you for sharing yr knowledge.
Okay...I just found your video and am so glad I did. I baked a rum cake yesterday for the first time and have been stressing over how to store it till christmas. I was hoping to feed the cake every week till Christmas day with rum as that's all I have. Will it act the same way as brandy in preserving. I am worried it will go bad. And I loved the way your cake looks...wish I would have seen the video first!!!
Hi there. Glad you found my video too. Yes Rum will act in the same way as Brandy. It will preserve your cake right up to Christmas. Just ensure you double wrap your cake with greaseproof paper and then foil. The paper will allow the cake to breathe and the foil will stabilise the temperature of the cake. Place in airtight container in the coolest part of your home. Hope that helps? Xx
I finally covered my cake with marzipan today. I made the same comment on IG about an hour ago and posted a pic of my jagged edge marzipan covering. How long do I need to wait before I can cut the cake? I completed the marzipan around 11pm tonight.
@@MysteryBaker Oh, good! Thank you, I'm dying to taste it. I texted family & friends that I would be revealing my Surprise Bake and then about an hour later sent them pics. So glad they like fruit cake!!!! lol Next time, I want to play with some icing and decorating. So appreciated your quick responses and help along the way. Your ginger cake is next. Have a lovely day!
@@Jennifer-oz8ec Bless you 🥰 This year starting in October I'm going to be dedicating my time on Christmas cakes, where people can join in and make theirs too... follow tutorials and some fondant decoration ideas. Oooh ginger cake is very nice xx Have a great day too xxx
My cake seems to have shrunk??? It looked awesome when I took it out of the oven. I brushed it with a few Drops of brandy and wrapped it up . I went to feed it 10 days later and the cake looks like it go smaller??? Am I imagining this???
@@MysteryBaker no the height of the cake seems to have shrunk. I did an 8inch cake which looked much like yours in the how to feed your cake. I feel like it now shorter than it was!!!! It’s my first Xmas cake.
@@sandraquirk8655 As long as you'd checked it by inserting knife or toothpick in the centre to check it had cooked throughout the cake, I'd not worry too much. X
can I still make fruit cake and add brandy when it's already the first week of December?is it too late already? how can I apply the brandy if it's still possible?
It's never too late to make your Christmas cake Kar. If you get to make the cake this weekend. Feed the cake its first taste of brandy two days after baking. Then you can feed twice a week up until Christmas. Hope that helps? Xx
@@Jennifer-oz8ec In that case allow 2 days for the cake to rest before feeding. So start feeding daily just 2tbsp, as of the 23rd up until New Year. Hope that answers your question? Merry Christmas 🎄🎅🎄 xx
@@MysteryBaker Thank you so much. I wanted to start this a couple of wks ago and got distracted by dark rum cake recipes and knitting yarn/patterns also for Christmas. Making fruit cake for the first time in over 40 years!!! I am right now looking at your 10" recipe. Merry Christmas to you, MysteryBaker!!!
@@Jennifer-oz8ec Bless you, you'll get there, I'm sure of it! It's never too late to make your cake 🥰 Oh yes, please do give my Christmas cake recipes a try - I also have a tutorial on an 8 inch or 6 inch cake too. If you do decide to follow one of my recipes, I'd love your feedback. Happy Baking! 🍰🎄🍰🎄🍰 xx
Oh, oh! My cake crumbles towards the centre when cutting. Not enough brandy? It's very tasty though. I love it. Probably the holes in the cake were not big enough and not enough at the beginning.
What a lovely video ! I have a friend's birthday coming and some brandy left from a previous party. I was seeing to make a brandy infused cake, but as my baking skills betray me, I'd now rather buy a pound cake and feed it the brandy. But I'm afraid I'm doing this for a cake thats to be cut in 2 days. I do not know if it will work out well.
What a wonderful idea, I really would suggest making your own because they'd love the effort you'd made. I would also be tempted to add raisins to your cake.. And the night before you bake it, soak the raisins in brandy, they will soak in the liquor overnight and be plump and juicy, which will add to the brandy flavour. Then once cake is baked you can always feed the entire cake with brandy too. Remember not to over do it as you want to still keep the taste of the cake and just have a slight kick of brandy. Hope that helps xx
Happy New Year, Mystery Baker!!!! I have a total of 14-16 days to feed my cake and as you suggested I started with 2 Tbsps every other day for the first 7 days. Do you remember when I wondered if 2Tbsps was enough for a 10" cake??? Now, I'm beginning to wonder if 2 Tbsps is too much! lol. I started feeding it every day as of this past Saturday. I may not have made enough holes in the cake so will add a few more today. Not going to cut it till Sat, Jan 9. I feed it and brush it with 2 Tbsps. I wonder if there are other people who decided to celebrate Christmas after Dec 25!!!! Sadly, I cannot find any marzipan. Stores have sold out!!!
Happy New Year to you Jennifer, oh not long to go now... I'm eager to find out what everyone thought of your majestic cake!! Make more Hole's yes, it will evenly disperse the alcohol that way. Shame about the marzipan but not to worry, it's such a great cake with or without it xxx
@@MysteryBaker I touched the top of the cake just before feeding with brandy today. It felt slightly sticky - is that normal? The parchment paper is beginning to show some sticky residue from the cake also but I assume that's because I have started feeding it everyday and that it's perfectly normal. You know what! No matter what it's going to taste good. It sure smells good. Truth is nobody would know if I had a piece because they're going to get pieces from me. lol I will be delivering my baked goods to a few homes on Saturday. So appreciate your encouragement : -)
@@Jennifer-oz8ec Oh it will be slightly sticky if you're feeding cake, so dont panic xxx I'd stop feeding it a day or 2 before you're due to deliver. Allow the cake to dry out a little on the surface. Very exciting though xxx
@@MysteryBaker Yes, I am excited about this cake. I'm going to call a good few supermarkets tomorrow for marzipan. I can buy 1 or 2Kg on Amazon for $35 Cdn :-) I won't because I'll have too much left over and it will be wasted.
@@Jennifer-oz8ec No that's far too expensive. Are ground almonds cheaper to buy? I did a video recently showing how to make marzipan, it maybe an option for you. It also shows you how to apply to the top of the cake xxx
i use a little spritzer bottle filled with brandy to baste the cake with every few weeks or so, hehe
Good idea 💡 xx
Thank you, thats what I"m Planning Here In Durham, North Carolina for the holidays! You are a great baker, with tips!
Thank you so much ❤️ Wonderful news, please come back and let me know how it went 😊 xxx
Great advice....feeding the cake really makes a difference....its time to start now....
Thank you ❤ Definitely great time to start xx
Thank you for great tip. Will remember next time🤞
My pleasure ❤️
I’ve used a brush and brushed over the surface. Also, my old recipe called for wrapping the cake in cheese cloth dampened with brandy or rum or whatever booze you like and are using in your cakes.
My great grandmother wrapped her cake in cheese cloth too I think she saturated the cake every year with brandy or whiskey... the cake was placed back in the cloth and tin cake pan until the next year..that cake was around for years
I think this is the one I’m going to make thankyou x
Wonderful news and great choice 😊. Keep me posted and Happy Baking ❤🍰
Interesting stuff!! I love how you give us a reason why you do things and not just - ''heres what I do'', thanks for your scientific touch! ;)
Awww you're so kind xx so pleased you understood me as I sometimes ramble ha!! xx
You don't ramble I understand you clearly :)
Thank you very much, that's good to know xx
Hello, I'm so glad to watch your videos. can you please let me know if it matters what container to store the xmas cake in? does it have to be stored in an airtight tin? thank you in advance for your reply.
@marikoone Hi, thanks for your question. It's really important to ensure your cake is wrapped well. I use greaseproof paper and then foil. Then store it in a tin with a secure lid. Place it away from direct heat and store in a relatively cool place. Hope that helps? Xx
@@MysteryBaker Hello, thank you so much for your reply, I appreciate it very much and I will do that then, :-)
@marikoone Pleasure 🙏 xx
Looks amazing! I will do it today 🎉 hope i am not too late. How often i need to feed it given its beginning of November? After second week of December should i feed it weekly as you suggested? When to stop so it dries dor decorating it? Love your advice you're so helpful and concise ❤
@@pm5095 Hi, feed it fortnightly in November, then once a week up until you decorate. You don't need to wait for drying time to decorate, using my method. But do turn the cake over on the flat clean side and use it as the top of your cake. Hope that helps xx
@MysteryBaker Very helpful I really appreciate you're answering me 💯👍 you're so skilled! Festive greetings 🌹
@pm5095 My pleasure 🙏 Happy Christmas 🎄 😊 xxx
This is exactly how it mum would do her Christmas fruit cakes! My mum was a baker (worked out of our home) and at Christmas she would take only a certain amount of orders of fruit cakes. She would feed the cakes (I really don't know how often but I do know she'd make the cakes in November as well) with brandy and keep them in a cool dark place. I don't have her recipe and she has Alzheimer's so I can't ask her for it. Anyway, just to let you knows I bought a fruit cake and I plan on feeding it starting tomorrow until Christmas. I'll let you know how my experiment turns out. Thank you fort your video!
What a lovely story about your mum and glad my video brought back those fond memories. Yes please let me know how it goes. Merry Christmas 🎄🥰🎄 xx
Thanks so much for the tutorial and all the tips! Do you make new holes every time you feed the cake or do you feed it in the same holes?
Hi, there's no need to make new holes, just simply apply the liquor to the same holes you made xx Hope that helps? Xx
Yes, thank you so much for the quick answer! 🙏🏻
@@irinak5674 My pleasure xx
Thanks for the info, I did try yesterday, the cake less taste of brandy and it's dry. So after watching ur video I will try again
Tqvm for sharing this info.
That's good to hear, I hope it turns out ok, but I'm sure you've rectified the problem x
Hope everyone is doing well, here's my video on how to feed your cake with brandy, if you're wanting to add a boozy note to your cake xx
My cake has moulds on top what should I do, or what might be the problem
@@gaileymusindo6052 Not sure what you mean, when you say 'moulds on top', if you give me more detail, I might be able to help xx
All I will say, firstly dont over drench the cake, just follow my steps. Once alcohol is poured on leave for a good 15mins so that the alcohol has time to dry off. Then cover tightly with grease proof paper and tin foil and place in air tight container. It's important you dont allow the air to get into your cake. Hope that helps xx
Please do i have to double wrap my cake after it has cooled right after baking?
I would ensure its completely cool first. Then double wrap x
I've always soaked my fruit first, yes you may lose the alcohol but the flavour will still be there. Think of making a sauce with wine, the alcohol will be gone but you can still taste the wine.Never had a dry cake yet but still feed my cake after baking.
Is it OK to leave the original base and side greaseproof paper on after baking? and, then, when cool wrap it in another layer of fresh greaseproof and foil or is it best to remove all original baking paper first? Have just made this recipe for the first time.
Hi Vivienne 🙂 I'd recommend removing the original paper and store it in freshly wrapped paper instead. It allows the cake to breathe a little xx
I made my first Xmas cake a few days ago. Delicious ! I used Port as I had nothing else available. Just bought a bottle of Sherry so I’ll do as per your video in a few days time. Thanks.
Wonderful, let me know how it turns out xx
Some really good advice:)
Glad it was helpful! xx
Agree for what u said. Thx
3:20 Actual technique with explanation. 3:50 Making some holes with a skewer or the like.
Sorry this is not TikTok
When do you start feeding is it after it cools or after days of baking it
I'd wait a full 24hrs before feeding. Hope that helps? 😊
What kind of material do l use to cover my cake during that long time of feeding the cake till Christmas
Cover in parchment (grease proof paper), then with aluminium foil...For extra protection you can store in a container and try to keep it away from direct heat. Hope that helps? X
Hello.. thank you for your recipe, i will be baking for the first time this cake tomorrow for my british friend wedding on july 30, my question is can i feed the cake 4 days after baking for 2 to 3 tbsp of rum, then after followed by every week until i decorate it? And its too hot here in spain now, can i put it on the fridge? Please help. Thank you
You certainly can feed your cake 4 days after baking - don't over saturate as it'll ruin those wonderful flavours already in your cake. I'd not refrigerate, just double wrap and store in airtight container, preferably in the coolest part of your home. Hope that helps and let me know how it goes xx 🙂
Thank you, such good advice. When i was a child, i recall my Aunt Betty 'feeding' her Christmas cakes with brandy, but didn't know how often. Everything she cooked was first class.
Now i know and have some useful tips too.
My pleasure and Merry Christmas ❤🎄
Hello I would like find out when is the best time to start baking and maturing alcohol Christmas cakes? in terms as weeks since we are in October. please help its my first attempt
@charitykasonkomonamutambwa9639 Hi, well, October is a great time to bake your cake. Once baked leave it for a couple of days to settle. Then feed (as demonstrated in video), fortnightly up until first week of December and then weekly up until decoration or when you cut the cake at Christmas 🎄 Hope that helps xx
This! Ready made cakes with alcohol are just not good because like you said... they're not boozy enough and on top of that very sweet... so I slice them and soak the bottom, once soaked turn them upside down... I enjoy them with black coffee without sugar
Thank you. If you follow my recipe, the cake will taste amazing, whether you feed the cake or not 😊 but yes feeding the cake does enhance the flavour xx
Didn't make a Christmas cake this year as I will not be at home for Christmas so I bought one in Marks and Spencer's with brandy to give to my son. I'm slowly adding some brandy every few days until it needs to be iced. Hope it works!
Oh it certainly will lift the cake and make it even more delicious xxx
I have done it last year it was the most the best christmas cake I ever ate. How can I get the recipe for a twelve or ten inch christmas cake please.
Hello am new to ur channel. excited to try ur recipes.. Wanted to try alcohol cakes.. I thought I should incorporate alcohol in cake mix n u taught me otherwise.. Ty.. Wanted to know if brandy cakes goes well with lemon buttercream frosting?
Glad you found me 🙂 Personally I'd not use lemon buttercream with a brandy fruit cake. Instead I'd use a cream cheese frosting and you could even add some brandy to the frosting. Hope that helps xx
@@MysteryBaker yes.. Thank u so much.. I am a beginner and have a huge interest in baking.. And I will be following ur recipes.. I have lemon curd stored so thought of incorporating in any of the alcohol cakes
@@trivenireddy7262 Have a look at my beautiful lemon drizzle cake recipe, I'm sure you could use some of your yummy lemon curd in a buttercream to go with the cake. So happy you are baking, it's such a wonderful hobby. Happy Baking 😊 xxx
Hi,do i have to sock my fruit before i back with it?
Soaking the fruit helps plump them up and can prevent them from burning in the baking process. If you dont want to use brandy you can use 3 to 4 tablespoons of orange juice. X
thank you so much.
My Pleasure 🥰
I use a pastry brush to apply the brandy.
How many days after baking can we start adding brandy to the cake?
Hi Harini, I'd wait for around a week after baking. Hope that helps? X
@@MysteryBaker Thank you. I added two days later. Hope it will be ok!! Can space it now as you’ve advised in your video.
@@harinishankar9345 Harini it should be fine as long as the cake has had time to fully settle and cool. Happy Baking 😊 x
Pls ma what is best alcohol that can preserve cake for weeks because I supply cake for people to sale
Hi Stanley, there are numerous alcohols that can preserve cakes, just remember what ever you choose, it will alter the taste. You can use brandy (as I have), whiskey, rum, amaretto etc. Its your choice. Hope that helps.
@@MysteryBaker ok ma thanks
@@stanleyachiogbo1600 Pleasure x
Thanks .....it was a great advice❤️
My pleasure 🥰 x
Hi would you recommend using brown parchment paper to line tin and the outside, or white greaseproof paper inside and brown paper on outside. What's the difference please
Both parchment paper and greaseproof paper are the same, they both provide a heatproof and nonstick surface for baking. Xx
@@MysteryBaker thank you have a fab weekend. X
@@jules1990 Thank you Jules, you too! ❤😊
This is a very good tutorial! I got a late start making my fruitcakes as in two days ago. They are basically American style but I make mine very similar to British style except we don't use marzipan and fondant which I love. I have them wrapped in cheesecloth and then plastic wrap. My question is as follows: do you think I can lightly coat them with brandy every four days until Christmas or just once per week. I wish I would have made them earlier. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
It's never too late to make Christmas cakes 😊 I would feed your cake twice a week up until you're ready to cut at Christmas. As my tutorial suggests, don't over saturate - but as you've baked them a little later, it will be fine to feed twice a week over the next 2 weeks. Hope that helps? X
@@MysteryBaker thank you so much!! ❤
@@lauraellen189 My pleasure ❤
Thanks so much, question, how do I store it ? Just wrap it in the paper until ready to feed again ?
Yes double wrap and place in airtight container, in a cool place of your home. Hope that helps xx
Will it not taste like brandy??? But I'm going to feed it weekly 🤔
If you add brandy, it will have a brandy taste, but if you follow the steps and don't overload and just do it weekly up until Christmas it will be lovely x
what can we use to feed the cake if we dont want to use booze?
how about orange juice?
Hi Usha 👋 Yes you certainly can, but I would suggest you don't feed too early and instead just start 4 weeks before the cake is to be eaten. Simply because orange juice will deteriorate quicker than alcohol. Hope that helps? 🙂
@@MysteryBaker it sure does. tks alot.
@@usharanipillai5470 🙂🎂🙂
A family member shared a slice of traditional Christmas cake with me that he made over a year ago this past week and it was delicious I believe it was an Alton brown recipe can I make a cake similar to this and have very similar results for Christmas time or must I wait a whole year at next year’s Christmas to have results?
Hi Jeff, this particular traditional Christmas cake has been known to be eaten a year or 2 years later. It's the alcohol that acts as a preservative. However, I can promise if you follow my recipe and then continue to feed the cake up until December, you will have the same majestic results without having to wait a year 😊 Hope that helps xx
Going to make my cake this weekend. Starting to get hot in Australia - once I have wrapped my cake and placed in a tin - should I put the cake in the fridge?
Oh wonderful, please keep me posted on how it turns out. I'd not refrigerate this cake. The feeding of the cake with Brandy, acts as a preservative. Just ensure its wrapped doubly tight and placed in an air tight container and placed in the coolest part of your home. Hope that helps? Xx
please tell me around what time should I start preparing as in , its going to be October in 10 days , around what time should i bake the cake?
For some reason your message was redirected as possible spam, so I've just read your message - Start as soon as you can and I would feed the cake daily upto the date you need to decorate x Hope that helps? x
@@MysteryBaker Thank you :) That would help. I will start in a week then. yay! I am already so excited.
@@swatilakra6664 Oooh you must keep me posted how it turned out? Happy Baking 🎂❤🍰
@@MysteryBaker
@@swatilakra6664 😊👍😊
hi, i made 2 xmas cakes y day, mine is hard on the edges, and looks dry, can i save it? xx
Hi Julie, if you can find me on Instagram mysterbakerx or facebook mystery baker, send me some pics and I'll have a better idea how to help you xx
PS I reckon it's solvable my love, it may just need covering overnight. Once you start feeding cake it will moisten xx
@@MysteryBaker ty so much, ive wrapped it, and fed it, see how it goes, ty fr advice, xxx
@@juliebrailsford7726 Pleasure .... aaaand relax 😊❤🎂
and what about after brushing the cake with brandy is it necessary to put in chiller to wait for the next brandy application ? or if its not nescessary to put in ref.
will it not be spoiled until the day u eat it?
You can certainly brush the cake with brandy if you wish. I sometimes brush with Brandy, just before I decorate. If you are living in a very humid climate then you could refrigerate, but I'd suggest you make you cake later (eg 4 weeks before cutting). Wrap tightly and double wrap if refrigerating. I keep my cake in a cooler part of the house and away from direct sunlight and it's always perfect to eat. Hope that helps x
@@MysteryBaker thank you very much this is really a big help.
@@lilianinque8605 Pleasure ❤
Temperature of oven
Please can you tell me, my daughter is getting married in September 2022. When should I cook my cakes and how long should I feed it please 🤔🤔
How wonderful that you're baking your daughters wedding cake. You can bake the cake at the end of July or beginning of August. Feed weekly up until you decorate. I hope that helps you? ❤
Also can I pick your brains please, if I’m stacking 3 tiers together do I still need to dowl the fruit cakes or will they take the wait. 15,20,25cms 🤔
@@karendavies2768 when stacking tiered cakes, I'd always suggest using dowels. It will help if cakes are in transit and you don't want anything to go wrong, for the special day xx
@@MysteryBaker thank you 😊
@@karendavies2768 Pleasure x
I am on the verge of overfeeding my very first Christmas cake with brandy because I thought that was best for flavour. But I’m so glad I found your video before I ruin my hard work! Thank you for sharing these really practical tips and what you said made full sense! Now I’m excited for the big reveal at Christmas 🎄
Awwww thank you for your lovely comment and I'm so glad you avoided disaster and am pleased to know, you'll now be enjoying the wonderful flavour of your cake xxx
@@MysteryBaker I’ll definitely keep you posted! Thank you again xx
@@mellyella Oh yes please, I'd love to hear your feedback xx
Hello! Do you make new holes every time or use the same holes every time?
Good question. The answer is no, just use the same holes to continue feeding your cake. Hope that helps? X
Thank you for this video.i baked mine 3 weeks ago its becoming soggy i closed it with clingwrap can i change it to baking paper as yours.i cling wrapped it and put 3 plastics please help
Hi Joyce, I hope I'm understanding your question. I'd not use clingfilm or cling wrap as it can make the cake sweat. What I'd suggest you do is, leave the cake open for a good hour to dry a little then re-cover it in greaseproof paper. The paper allows the cake to breathe. Then place over the greaseproof paper a roll of foil to stabilise the temperature. Hope that helps you? Xx
@Kim Alison I'm so pleased, I was able to help 🥰 xx
Can I mix rum with fruit juice in order to reduce the flavor of alcohol in rum? thank you
Just feed the cake less. You can either reduce from 2 tablespoons to just 1 tablespoon and feed it as infrequently as you wish. Hope that helps? Xx
@@MysteryBaker thank you very much.
@@nguyenhelen4712 pleasure xx
Hey, I just baked a christmas cake like today the reason being is that I have never had christmas cake before in my childhood as I wasn't a fan of dried fruits. I am more open to them nowadays. And so I had no idea that christmas cakes were supposed to be prepared weeks in advance. I thought it was like the day before.
So, rather than have it on christmas day. I have said to my family that we'll have it for new year's.
My question is how many times can I realistically feed the cake this week without oversoaking it and making it too stodgy?
Hi There, just follow my feeding instructions, but just feed it every day up until New Years day. Hope that helps? ❤🎄😊
@@MysteryBaker Ok, thanks for the advice and for replying so fast. I hope it works. Hope you had a happy christmas and have a happy new year. 🎄
I promise it'll be just fine 😊 Happy New Year to you too 🎄❤
Thanks for the video and great advice. I've made my cake today, so later than I normally make it. It doesn't seem as moist around the sides and top as usual, so I'm hoping it's ok. Am I ok to feed it with brandy weekly until Christmas and can I start to do this at the weekend?
Hi Lorraine, yes I'd start Saturday and feed it weekly up until Christmas. If you are decorating the cake or adding marzipan, you can also brush brandy all over the cake about an hour before you decorate, it'll just add a final bit of 'Pizzazz' to the cake! Hope that helps? Xx
@@MysteryBaker Thank you 😁 I'll definitely do that, I love a bit of extra "pizzazz"! I hope you manage to have a good Christmas under current circumstances. Thanks again for the advice xx
@@zippyc6609 We all need a little bit of "Pizzazz" don't we? 😀 Thank you and A very Merry Christmas to you and yours ❤🎄❤🎄❤
@@MysteryBaker
I'm going to use napoleon brandy.
@@robertgoh7420 Great Choice 😊👍 xx
Hi, can I wrap the cake In an aluminium foil first followed by the baking paper? My aunt used to keep her fruit cakes in big biscuit tins. Is that ok? Her cakes were great by the way. She is 80 plus and doesnt make those types anymore.
Wonderful that you have fond memories of your aunts baking 🥰 It's entirely upto your own preference. The reason I put the paper first, is that paper allows the cake to breath. Then I cover with foil and the foil stabilizes the temperature and keeps the cake cooler. Happy Baking 🥰
Thank you so much. Come to think of it, I recall my aunt had the paper first too.. Her daughter wasnt happy and enquired about it.. cant remember what my aunt told my cousin. Thank you for sharing yr knowledge.
@@keirapudding1714 Ah right, well I wish you every success in your Christmas cake baking 😀 My pleasure, I'm only glad to help xx
Okay...I just found your video and am so glad I did. I baked a rum cake yesterday for the first time and have been stressing over how to store it till christmas. I was hoping to feed the cake every week till Christmas day with rum as that's all I have. Will it act the same way as brandy in preserving. I am worried it will go bad. And I loved the way your cake looks...wish I would have seen the video first!!!
Hi there. Glad you found my video too. Yes Rum will act in the same way as Brandy. It will preserve your cake right up to Christmas. Just ensure you double wrap your cake with greaseproof paper and then foil. The paper will allow the cake to breathe and the foil will stabilise the temperature of the cake. Place in airtight container in the coolest part of your home. Hope that helps? Xx
My dad loves brandy, so if he heard that I'd spilled any he would call me a heathen and disown me lol.
Haha love it! ❤😊🍰
I finally covered my cake with marzipan today. I made the same comment on IG about an hour ago and posted a pic of my jagged edge marzipan covering.
How long do I need to wait before I can cut the cake? I completed the marzipan around 11pm tonight.
Hi Jennifer, you can cut it anytime - as the marzipan has had time to dry out. Exciting xx let me know how it goes xx
@@MysteryBaker Oh, good! Thank you, I'm dying to taste it. I texted family & friends that I would be revealing my Surprise Bake and then about an hour later sent them pics. So glad they like fruit cake!!!! lol
Next time, I want to play with some icing and decorating. So appreciated your quick responses and help along the way.
Your ginger cake is next.
Have a lovely day!
@@Jennifer-oz8ec Bless you 🥰 This year starting in October I'm going to be dedicating my time on Christmas cakes, where people can join in and make theirs too... follow tutorials and some fondant decoration ideas. Oooh ginger cake is very nice xx Have a great day too xxx
My cake seems to have shrunk??? It looked awesome when I took it out of the oven. I brushed it with a few
Drops of brandy and wrapped it up . I went to feed it 10 days later and the cake looks like it go smaller??? Am I imagining this???
Do you mean shrunk in size or shrunk in the centre? X
@@MysteryBaker no the height of the cake seems to have shrunk. I did an 8inch cake which looked much like yours in the how to feed your cake. I feel like it now shorter than it was!!!! It’s my first Xmas cake.
@@sandraquirk8655 Did you follow my recipe or was it one that used a raising agent (for eg self raising flour)? X
I used all purpose flour.
@@sandraquirk8655 As long as you'd checked it by inserting knife or toothpick in the centre to check it had cooked throughout the cake, I'd not worry too much. X
can I still make fruit cake and add brandy when it's already the first week of December?is it too late already? how can I apply the brandy if it's still possible?
It's never too late to make your Christmas cake Kar. If you get to make the cake this weekend. Feed the cake its first taste of brandy two days after baking. Then you can feed twice a week up until Christmas. Hope that helps? Xx
Thank you sooo much!! I will be checking your recipe.. I'm a new fan from Cebu Philippines...
@@familyaffair1871 Thank you Kar for joining me and Welcome ❤
Im even lucky to find you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge around the world.
@@familyaffair1871 I'm lucky to have wonderful subscribers such as you Kar ❤
I am going to make my Christmas cake on Sunday, Dec 20. How often shall I add the brandy? Thank you for this really good information.
I'd add 2 to 3 tbsp of Brandy Daily, presuming you will be cutting it on 25th December. Hope that helps you? 🎄❤🎄 xx
@@MysteryBaker Thank you for your quick response, MysteryBaker. I don't plan to cut/share it till New Year's Eve.
@@Jennifer-oz8ec In that case allow 2 days for the cake to rest before feeding. So start feeding daily just 2tbsp, as of the 23rd up until New Year. Hope that answers your question? Merry Christmas 🎄🎅🎄 xx
@@MysteryBaker Thank you so much. I wanted to start this a couple of wks ago and got distracted by dark rum cake recipes and knitting yarn/patterns also for Christmas. Making fruit cake for the first time in over 40 years!!! I am right now looking at your 10" recipe. Merry Christmas to you, MysteryBaker!!!
@@Jennifer-oz8ec Bless you, you'll get there, I'm sure of it! It's never too late to make your cake 🥰 Oh yes, please do give my Christmas cake recipes a try - I also have a tutorial on an 8 inch or 6 inch cake too. If you do decide to follow one of my recipes, I'd love your feedback. Happy Baking! 🍰🎄🍰🎄🍰 xx
When do you start feeding the cake? Is it as soon as it's baked, or two weeks afterwards?
I'd always wait a few days after baking the cake before deciding to feed with brandy. Hope the helps Gina? Xx
Thanks. That has helped me. I made the cake yesterday, so I can start feeding it on the weekend. Keep up the good work . x
@@ginataylor8859 oooh lovely bet its smelling very Christmassy in your house right now xx
@@ginataylor8859, is it for Christmas? Or you will eat it before?
Oh, oh! My cake crumbles towards the centre when cutting. Not enough brandy? It's very tasty though. I love it. Probably the holes in the cake were not big enough and not enough at the beginning.
Jennifer, dont be too hard on yourself... most cakes have a crumble in it. It's quite normal xxx Theyll love it, I'm sure xx
@@MysteryBaker I love it!!!! Some pieces cut well. Perhaps the knives. Who knows!!!!
@@Jennifer-oz8ec Yaaay! Success!!! Great stuff 🥰❤🥰
❤
What a lovely video ! I have a friend's birthday coming and some brandy left from a previous party. I was seeing to make a brandy infused cake, but as my baking skills betray me, I'd now rather buy a pound cake and feed it the brandy. But I'm afraid I'm doing this for a cake thats to be cut in 2 days. I do not know if it will work out well.
What a wonderful idea, I really would suggest making your own because they'd love the effort you'd made. I would also be tempted to add raisins to your cake.. And the night before you bake it, soak the raisins in brandy, they will soak in the liquor overnight and be plump and juicy, which will add to the brandy flavour. Then once cake is baked you can always feed the entire cake with brandy too. Remember not to over do it as you want to still keep the taste of the cake and just have a slight kick of brandy. Hope that helps xx
👍👌
🎂❤️🎂
Happy New Year, Mystery Baker!!!!
I have a total of 14-16 days to feed my cake and as you suggested I started with 2 Tbsps every other day for the first 7 days.
Do you remember when I wondered if 2Tbsps was enough for a 10" cake??? Now, I'm beginning to wonder if 2 Tbsps is too much! lol. I started feeding it every day as of this past Saturday.
I may not have made enough holes in the cake so will add a few more today. Not going to cut it till Sat, Jan 9. I feed it and brush it with 2 Tbsps.
I wonder if there are other people who decided to celebrate Christmas after Dec 25!!!!
Sadly, I cannot find any marzipan. Stores have sold out!!!
Happy New Year to you Jennifer, oh not long to go now... I'm eager to find out what everyone thought of your majestic cake!! Make more Hole's yes, it will evenly disperse the alcohol that way. Shame about the marzipan but not to worry, it's such a great cake with or without it xxx
@@MysteryBaker I touched the top of the cake just before feeding with brandy today. It felt slightly sticky - is that normal? The parchment paper is beginning to show some sticky residue from the cake also but I assume that's because I have started feeding it everyday and that it's perfectly normal.
You know what! No matter what it's going to taste good. It sure smells good. Truth is nobody would know if I had a piece because they're going to get pieces from me. lol
I will be delivering my baked goods to a few homes on Saturday.
So appreciate your encouragement : -)
@@Jennifer-oz8ec Oh it will be slightly sticky if you're feeding cake, so dont panic xxx I'd stop feeding it a day or 2 before you're due to deliver. Allow the cake to dry out a little on the surface. Very exciting though xxx
@@MysteryBaker Yes, I am excited about this cake. I'm going to call a good few supermarkets tomorrow for marzipan. I can buy 1 or 2Kg on Amazon for $35 Cdn :-) I won't because I'll have too much left over and it will be wasted.
@@Jennifer-oz8ec No that's far too expensive. Are ground almonds cheaper to buy? I did a video recently showing how to make marzipan, it maybe an option for you. It also shows you how to apply to the top of the cake xxx
Don't you be drinking that Brandy, its meant for the cake lol
Haha dont tempt me! Xx
Better done with a cake syringe injecting from all angles.
Yes you can use syringes but most of my subscribers are novices and have little to nothing in way of equipment. This simple method works too. X
What kind of material do l use to cover my cake during that long time of feeding the cake till Christmas
Parchment (grease proof) paper then aluminum foil x