The Cheats Christmas Cake
This Christmassy Cake is exactly what it says on the tin. It’s the most simple of cakes as it’s literally a basic 3 egg sponge but with a few spoonfuls of mincemeat to give it that ‘Christmas Factor.’ I wouldn’t necessarily say this works as THE cake to have on Christmas Day but it is the perfect kind of cake for Christmas parties or just when friends pop by over the Christmas period for a cuppa or even drop of bubbles!
It’s really fast to make and can be done in the ‘all-in-one’ method or as outlined below with each step. I’ve done both and there’s very little in it.
- 200g golden caster sugar
- 225g butter – at room temperature
- 3 large, free-range eggs
- 180g self-raising flour
- 45g ground almonds
- the finely grated zest of 1 orange
- 3 tablespoons mincemeat – I’m using the Intensely Fruity Matured Mincemeat from Sainsbury’s
Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin and pre-heat the oven to 180C (fan)
Place the sugar and butter into a large bowl and beat well until pale and fluffy. This will take 5 mins in a stand mixer, or 8 mins with a hand-held mixer, or a lot longer with a wooden spoon!
Crack in all the eggs and half the flour and beat well, then add the remaining flour, the mincemeat, the grated set and the ground almonds and beat well for another 5 mins.
Pour the cake batter into your prepared loaf tin and bake for 35 – 40 mins or until golden and risen and a skewer inserted, comes out clean. Let it cool completely on a wire rack.
Drizzle the top of the cake with some icing made from 100g icing sugar and a dash of whisky or brandy.
Check our Dom in the Kitchen for more Christmas Cake recipes.
Eat and of course, enjoy!
This is the perfect recipe for using up the last of a jar of mincemeat at the back of one’s fridge {I always seem to have!}. Great for when friends pop round but this year will run a few up and gift.🎁 Excellent idea to combine a simple cake with a ‘boozy’ icing drizzled over the top, definitely takes it to the next level of deliciousness! I may also fold a few chopped glazed cherries into the mixture. It’s on my baking ‘to do’ list. Thank you for sharing Dom. Merry Christmas!🎄🤶
its exactly that!
Lovely!
I’m all for all-in-one method cakes and for something a bit lighter than a rich Christmas cake. (Although I love that too!) I bet this would also be delicious with a splash of something festive in it – Cointreau perhaps, or rum…..yummmm….
Merry Christmas to you and yours…….XX
all in one is fab! Yes to the cointreau!