When's the right time to make XMas cake/pudding?

[d000hg]

We normally buy a pudding and don't bother about a cake even though we love it, but this year my mother and brother are joining us for Xmas so maybe it's worth the effort.

Is it too soon or even too late to make these? Should I have started last Xmas?!

[doodab]

Just buy them.

[d000hg]

Just buy them.

TBH I think we probably will buy a pudding, they are not expensive and generally of great quality. But a decent proper rich cake is hard to find, or very expensive. It's not the same IMO and mum would appreciate the gesture.

[mudskipper]

TBH I think we probably will buy a pudding, they are not expensive and generally of great quality. But a decent proper rich cake is hard to find, or very expensive. It's not the same IMO and mum would appreciate the gesture.

Make it now and feed it. And have fun decorating it!

I'm not artistic, but had a go at one a couple of years ago - I think my snowmen may have got drunk on the brandy fumes...

[doodab]

TBH I think we probably will buy a pudding, they are not expensive and generally of great quality. But a decent proper rich cake is hard to find, or very expensive. It's not the same IMO and mum would appreciate the gesture.

I know what you mean. Even "best of" / "finest" etc only seems to mean "not adulterated with sawdust".

It might be worth a trip to Lidl to check out their stollen.

[Bacchus]

Make it now and feed it. And have fun decorating it!

I'm not artistic, but had a go at one a couple of years ago - I think my snowmen may have got drunk on the brandy fumes...

Brilliant!


In answer to the OP, it's never too early to make them. My grandmother used to make them in late summer - for the following year!

[cojak]

On my homebrew forum they've started preparing for Christmas (all bar the public decorations, they've started a petition to ban those before the 1st December).

Xmas stout is ready for bottling tomorrow and the homemade mincemeat will be ready for putting into jars on Monday. I might even make edible Christmas tree decorations this year.

My Christmas pudding is a bit more instant but the forum members have already made their cakes and are 'feeding' them over November.

But definately bake them next week or the weekend (get the ingredients tomorrow).

[d000hg]

I know what you mean. Even "best of" / "finest" etc only seems to mean "not adulterated with sawdust".

It might be worth a trip to Lidl to check out their stollen.

I do love stollen, but it's not a replacement for a proper British fruitcake with marzipan and hard icing sculpted to look like snow

[OwlHoot]

Just buy them.

Supermarket cakes always seem rather dry and insubstantial.

If you include enough brandy in a home made Christmas cake I'd have thought it would easily last months.

[MarillionFan]

Jan / Feb is a little late IMHO.