Last year, as usual, I baked a number of Nigella's Traditional Christmas Cakes, all nice and boozy! Anyway there was one that wasn't collected so I wrapped it up quite well, placed it in a metal tin and placed it on a dark shelf in an unused bedroom.
Anyway I'm wondering what sort of shape would the cake be in now? Not a good cake or a well matured cake? Would a good feed of booze put some life back into it, make it suitable for a present or keep it for myself?
NIgella's Traditional Christmas Cake (from Nigella Christmas) is a rich fruit cake that is moister than some cakes thanks to the ground almonds (almond meal or flour) that is added to the cake batter. Like most rich fruit cakes, it benefits from a maturing period and being fed with some extra alcohol, though in the book it is suggested that the keeping time is 6 weeks and generally we suggest if keeping the cake for longer than this then the cake should be frozen as it will keep for a year.
The cake sounds as if it has been strored correctly, though if it has been wrapped directly in foil then that can impart a metallic taste to the dried fruits. If the cake has been wrapped in baking parchment (parchment paper) or greaseproof paper and then stored then this should not be a problem. The best thing to do is look at the cake. If there are any signs of mould, or if the cake has a fermented, sour or odd smell, then it is safer to discard the cake. But if there are none of these then the cake sould be fine as rich fruit cakes can be kept for longer. You could always cut a tiny piece out of whatever is (or will be after decorating) the bottom of the cake and taste it to see if the flavour of the cake is still good. It may benefit from being fed with a little extra alcohol, though this will also depend on how much alcohol was added after the cake was baked. We are not sure if the cake was decorated, but if it was then you should remove any marzipan or icing and decorate the cake with fresh marzipan and icing. If you are any doubt about the condition of the cake then it is also safer to discard it.
In Japan, women had traditionally been expected to marry at a young age, and those who were unmarried after the age of 25 were metaphorically referred to as "(unsold) Christmas cakes" (クリスマスケーキ) in reference to items which are still unsold after the 25th.
Our answer. Nigella's Traditional Christmas Cake (from Christmas) is a moist and rich fruit cake. This type of cake usually stores well in a cool, dry environment and although 6 weeks is preferable for storage, the cake can be stored for slightly longer in the correct conditions.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these seemingly indestructible pastries typically stay fresh for six months in the pantry and up to a year when refrigerated. But anecdotally we know that they can last for decades; some of the oldest have been preserved for more than a century.
If you followed it exactly and did not add any alcohol in, I would recommend 3-4 weeks max. The cake has a lot of sugar and dried fruit which will help preserve it but it will not last as long as a traditional cake without the alcohol.
Let cake cool completely before brushing with rum and wrapping in cheesecloth, followed by plastic wrap and tin foil, then storing in a sealed plastic bag in a cool, dry area. Remove wrapping and brush cake top and sides with rum once a week. Let cake “age” for at least 3-4 weeks before cutting and serving.
Whether you're gifting the traditional fruit- and nut-studded cakes or eating them at home, you should ideally start the process 6 to 7 weeks before you plan to enjoy them.
Fruitcake is no ordinary cake. It can stay fresh and edible for months after baking. What typically makes fruitcake last so long is its super dense texture.
Our fruitcakes have a six month shelf life. We have decided if you refrigerate your fruitcake after opening, it will stay firmer and will be easier to slice with a serrated knife. For international orders please call 336-581-3141.
Depending on what recipe households have followed, Christmas cakes can be kept wrapped up in an airtight container for up to three months in advance, according to the experts at Cater 4 You.
Other good choices of booze include brandy, rum, or whiskey. Feel free to use one or a mix of these to best complement your fruitcake. Once you've chosen the liquor, bake the cake, poke holes throughout the whole thing, and pour a few tablespoons of the alcohol over it. Or, you can brush the cake with the alcohol.
Safety Note: If a fruitcake has a significant amount of moisture (e.g., if it was made with fresh fruit) it is more likely to spoil or to give pathogens enough moisture to reproduce. In other words, it could make you sick if not kept refrigerated and eaten relatively quickly.
For a non-alcoholic version, you can replace the alcohol with cold tea, fresh orange or apple juice. You can then feed the cake with either: Cold tea. Fresh orange or apple juice.
HOW LONG DOES A CHRISTMAS CAKE LAST? Christmas cakes to be kept in a tin can be made up to 3 months in advance depending on the recipe you use, OR you can make it many more months ahead, freeze it and defrost it when you are ready to 'feed' it or ice it.
Some say you should make your Christmas cake 6 weeks before eating, but the advice given on Nigella.com is that 12 weeks before is the optimum time to get baking. Your Christmas cake should be fed every 4 to 6 weeks but in the meantime, after baking, it should be stored away in a secure, air tight container.
Grandma's Fruitcake slices best when chilled. We recommend that you refrigerate your cake overnight or freeze it for a few hours before slicing with a Non Serrated Knife. Our fruitcakes have a 9 month shelf life.
Cool completely in the tin, then use a skewer to pierce small holes across the top. Feed with 1-2 tbsp of brandy, then remove from the tin and wrap in fresh baking parchment, then foil. The cake will now keep for 2-3 months in a cool dark place. Feed with brandy about once every fortnight.
STORAGE INSTRUCTIONS AND SHELF LIFE : Store in cool, dry and hygienic place to protect from insects, pest and strong odors. The cake has a shelf life of 15 days from the date of manufacturing. Once Opened Consume Within 2-3 Days. Store in Airtight Container Under Refrigerated Condition.
There's no hard and fast rule about when to ice your cake, but it's best to do it between 24 hours and a week ahead of the big day. A few creative flourishes will make your cake look fabulous.
Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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