Need Christmas Cake advice?!


Question: I have attempted to make a christmas cake for the first time today, it has come out fine, apart from the top has cracked.........when I ice the cake in a few weeks time, do I need to cut the top off the cake to create a flat surface or will this spoil the cake? I want the icing to look nice and smooth as I have bought some of those lovely little decs to go on the top. It is a fruit cake containing whisky and the fruit was boiled in sherry etc. I have spent alot on this cake and would like it to be 'right' when it is finished.

I am planning to use ready rolled marzipan and icing as I have never done this before.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thankyou in advance.


Answers: I have attempted to make a christmas cake for the first time today, it has come out fine, apart from the top has cracked.........when I ice the cake in a few weeks time, do I need to cut the top off the cake to create a flat surface or will this spoil the cake? I want the icing to look nice and smooth as I have bought some of those lovely little decs to go on the top. It is a fruit cake containing whisky and the fruit was boiled in sherry etc. I have spent alot on this cake and would like it to be 'right' when it is finished.

I am planning to use ready rolled marzipan and icing as I have never done this before.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thankyou in advance.

If you are using rolled marzipan and icing, you may not have to do anything to it. Are you covering the entire cake in marzipan, or just using the marzipan to create the decorations? If you are covering the entire cake with it, then my suggestion to you would be to fill the crack with a mixture of brown sugar, and raisins and dates (that have been soaked in either brandy, rum, or cognac), then lightly ice the cake on top and sides, and cover with the marzipan, then decorate the edges the day of your party with whipped cream in a can with a nozzle, this will allow you to fill up the sides and decorate at the same time, and the whipped cream will lighten everything up and cut down on the sweet factor. Put it back in the freezer to firm up a bit after you add the whipped cream.

PS Cover the entire marzipan with whipped cream before decorating the edges.


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Usually you do not frost a fruit cake..

dont cut the top off... it will make it harder to frost.... the colder the cake and the warmer the frosting the easier to frost

either cut the top off or just bake a perfectly flat cake to go on top of the one you made, I've seen my sister do this, it works because you can always fix the cake you just made without destroying the cake you worked so hard on.

Do not cut the cake and attempt to frost it...you'll have problems with crumbs in the frosting.
Simply turn it upside down and frost the flat bottom.
It is certainly easier to frost a frozen cake than a fresh.
Merry Christmas.

Just slice the uneven top off with a good knife when you need to ice it. It sounds wonderful, and I'm sure it will be a success for you.

cut the top off, the turn it over so its flat.. then frost it.

Sounds like it will be wonderful!

firstly - you do frost a fruit cake!!!

Thinly sut the top off, cover with greaseproof paper and re bake for about 10 minutes on medium

Voila!

I think icing over the top of a cracked cake will be just fine, and look earthy, homemade, and rustic, the way a fruit cake should look.

I think I'd skip the dcos, though, whatever those are. Just let your creation that took you a month and a half to make be the star of the show!

Wrap it in cling film and store it cracked top down. This will moisturise the dried cracked top and also flatten it.

A week's storage should be more than adequate.

Fix your marzipan to the cake, using fine jam.

Fruit cakes benefit from an extended storage before icing, during which time, the addition of a couple of daily tablespoons of cream sherry can mature the flavour!

You don't need to cut the top off. Just turn the cake upside down and there's your flat surface, but you might need to trim the now bottom off a bit so that it sits properly. Well done you for attempting your first ever Christmas cake, that's exciting when you can turn around and show it to everyone on the day and say "I made my own this year, look". So enjoy and Happy Christmas.

If it's uneven, cut it level, then turn it over and marzipan the bottom! If it's just a crack the the marzipan will cover a multitude of sins! Well done and nothing is nicer than home-made cake!





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