When the holiday season rolls around, there’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked treats to fill your home with warmth and joy. A Christmas cake is a classic holiday dessert that brings together the festive flavors of dried fruits, nuts, and spices in a dense, rich cake that is perfect for sharing with loved ones. In this recipe inspired by the renowned chef Jamie Oliver, we’ll show you how to create a delicious masterpiece that’s sure to become a highlight of your holiday celebrations.
**Jamie Oliver For Christmas Cake**
**Ingredients:**
– 1 cup raisins
– 1 cup sultanas
– 1 cup dried cranberries
– 1 cup chopped dried apricots
– ½ cup chopped candied peel
– ½ cup chopped almonds
– 1 cup dark rum
– 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
– 1 cup dark brown sugar
– 4 large eggs
– 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
– 1 tsp baking powder
– 1 tsp ground cinnamon
– ½ tsp ground nutmeg
– ½ tsp ground cloves
– Pinch of salt
– Zest of 1 orange
– Zest of 1 lemon
– Juice of 1 orange
– Juice of 1 lemon
**Instructions:**
1. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Grease and line a 9-inch round cake pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine the raisins, sultanas, dried cranberries, dried apricots, candied peel, and chopped almonds. Pour the rum over the fruit and nut mixture, stirring well to combine. Let it soak for at least 1 hour or up to overnight, stirring occasionally.
3. In a separate bowl, cream together the softened butter and dark brown sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
6. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until just combined.
7. Fold in the soaked fruit and nut mixture along with any remaining rum, orange zest, lemon zest, orange juice, and lemon juice. Mix until well incorporated.
8. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
9. Bake the cake in the preheated oven for 2 ½ to 3 hours, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top starts to brown too quickly, cover the cake loosely with foil.
10. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely in the pan before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
11. Once cooled, you can decorate the cake with royal icing, marzipan, or leave it plain for a more rustic look.
12. Serve the Christmas cake in thin slices accompanied by a cup of hot tea or mulled wine for a truly festive experience.
Make this Jamie Oliver-inspired Christmas cake ahead of time to allow the flavors to deepen and develop. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or wrap it well and freeze for longer storage. Enjoy the process of baking this holiday delight and sharing it with your friends and family for a truly special Christmas celebration.
