Go Back Email Link
Mary Berry Christmas Cake Recipe

Mary Berry Christmas Cake Recipe

Mary Berry's Christmas cake is rich, dark, and packed with fruit — made to be fed weekly with brandy until Christmas.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 4 hours
Servings: 20 Slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Calories: 390
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Fruit Soak Night Before:
  • 500 g sultanas
  • 200 g currants
  • 150 g raisins
  • 100 g dried cranberries
  • 100 g glacé cherries halved, rinsed and dried
  • 75 g mixed peel
  • 100 ml brandy
  • Cake:
  • 250 g unsalted butter softened
  • 250 g soft dark brown sugar
  • 5 large eggs room temperature
  • 2 tbsp black treacle
  • 275 g plain flour sifted
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 75 g ground almonds
  • Zest of 1 unwaxed orange
  • Zest of 1 unwaxed lemon
  • 75 g blanched almonds optional

Method
 

  1. Night before: combine all dried fruit and glacé cherries with brandy. Cover and soak overnight.
  2. Preheat oven to 150°C / 130°C fan / Gas 2. Double-line a deep 23cm tin. Wrap outside in brown paper.
  3. Beat butter, brown sugar, and treacle 4–5 minutes. Add eggs one at a time. Sift in flour, spices, and baking powder. Add ground almonds and zests. Fold gently. Add all soaked fruit and liquid. Fold thoroughly.
  4. Spoon into tin. Level with wet spoon. Arrange blanched almonds on top if using.
  5. Bake on lowest shelf for 3–3.5 hours until skewer comes out clean. Cool completely in tin.
  6. Pierce top and base with skewer. Brush with 2 tbsp brandy. Wrap in parchment and foil. Feed with 1–2 tbsp brandy weekly until Christmas.

Notes

Soak fruit overnight minimum — 48 hours gives even better results.
Wrap outside of tin in brown paper — essential for an even bake over 3+ hours.
Bake on the lowest shelf at a low temperature.
Feed with brandy every week — this is what makes a Christmas cake great.
Make in October for the best result by Christmas.
Stores wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 months. Freezes for up to 12 months.
QR Code linking back to recipe