5 Christmas cake recipes to ring in the merry season

We’re hearing sleigh bells ringing right around the corner, and our excitement knows no bounds when we think of Christmas. Before the season knocks on our door to join us in the merry making, we need to keep our kitchen ready for the celebration mode! What says “Joyful” better than a cake? Christmas cakes are a staple on the table and each family probably has their own favorite recipe. Curious to know how to make cake at home? We have a list of 5 different Christmas cake recipes for this holly, jolly Christmas season. These scrumptious cakes are sure to be a hit at home and they are so fun to make, you’re bound to want to make them even after Christmas ends.

Black Forest Cake

This richly flavoured cake is one of the most popular cakes around the world and for good reason: layers of soft chocolate cake smothered with Kirsch liquor and layered with cherries makes for a truly special cake. The added zing of alcohol gives the Black Forest a slightly bitter taste, which when paired with the sweet cherries gives your taste buds a truly special experience.

• In a stand mixer , beat 6 eggs, 1 cup of sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla together until it is soft and fluffy while alternatively adding 4 ounces of melted chocolate and 1 cup of flour into this mixture.
• Grease the cake mould and pre-heat the oven to 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Now, bake the cake.

• For the syrup, boil 1/4 cup of sugar and 1/3 cup of water together and later add 2 tablespoons of Kirsch when the syrup has cooled.
• Make the buttercream filling by beating together ⅓ tablespoon of unsalted butter and 1.5 cups of sugar, until they blend well. Then, add 1 egg yolk and beat again until light and fluffy.
• Soak the cake with the syrup and add the buttercream filling topped with canned cherries
• Cover the entire cake with the topping made of 2 cups of canned sour cherries, 1 cup heavy whipped cream, 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate and 2 tablespoons of confectioners’ sugar.
• Add grated chocolate on top and decorate with the remaining cherries.
• Refrigerate until cooled and enjoy.

Plum Cake

Christmas isn't Christmas without a Plum cake. It's a hearty cake brimming with dried fruits and is the best fruit cake that can last in the fridge for a long time - though it doesn’t last long when opened and shared with family and friends.

• Sieve together 2 cups of flour and ½ teaspoon baking powder and keep that aside.
  In another bowl, mix 1 cup of brown sugar and ½ cup butter thoroughly.
• Add 3 eggs to the mixture and beat them well. You can use an electric blender to make the process easy.
• Add the flour and baking powder mix to the mixture, spoon by spoon so that no lumps are formed. Now, add ½-to-1 cup of milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla essence and mix well.
• Add 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder to the mixture and blend well. Leave this mixture aside for 10 minutes. Add finely chopped nuts and prunes and beat well again.
• Pre-heat the oven to 180°C for 15 minutes. Prep a baking tray and line it with butter paper. Add some grease and flour to the tray and pour the batter.
• Bake at 180°C degrees for 45 minutes. Keep checking if the cake is done with a skewer after 35 minutes and adjust the timing accordingly. Once done, take out the cake and let it cool.

Enjoy with tea and other assorted snacks.

Old Fashioned Gingerbread Cake

A Gingerbread Man with his Gingerbread House is a traditional North American Christmas dream, so it is only apt for a Gingerbread Cake to grace your house on Christmas. Read on to know how to make cake at home with gingerbread’s famous signature spicy-sweet taste and aroma.

• Firstly, whip up ½ cup of sugar and butter and later add 1 cup of molasses and 1 egg.
  Take another vessel and mix 2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon cloves, 1 teaspoon ginger and ½ teaspoon salt.
• Combine this with the ingredients from the other bowl, and then slowly pour 1 cup of hot water into the mixture. Stir until smooth.
• Pour this mixture into a well-greased and floured baking pan.
  Pre-heat the oven to 175°C for 10 minutes. Bake the cake for 30-45 minutes.

Serve the cake warm, topped with whipped cream.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake

This classic British dessert is a holiday favourite across the world for its delectable and moist texture. It is made of dates - an unusual but delicious ingredient that brings out the best fruit cake. For those who like sweet flavours that don’t overpower taste buds, this cake is perfect. Here is a special Christmas cake recipe just for you!

• Take 1 to 1.5 cups of dates in a bowl and pour ¾ cup of boiling water over them. Leave it for 10 minutes.
• In another bowl, beat together ⅓ cup of butter, ¾ cup sugar and 2 eggs. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and leave aside.
• Take another bowl, combine 1.5 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda and ½ teaspoon salt and mix well. Add this to the previous mixture. Once mixed, add the softened dates.
• Pre-heat the oven to 350°F for 15 minutes. Pour the batter into a cake pan and bake for 45-60 minutes. Make sure to regularly keep checking that the cake does not get too dry. Once done, leave the cake to cool for 15 minutes.
• In a medium pot, combine ¾ cup of brown sugar, ⅓ cup of butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 cup of cream and ½ teaspoon salt. Bring this to a boil while constantly stirring until thickened.
  

Serve the cake with this pudding mixture poured on top.

Carrot Cake

This cake will surely change your assumptions about a vegetable being the key ingredient in a cake - not only is it unbelievably rich and tasty, but when topped with cream cheese and pecans, it becomes a fast favourite. Moreover, it is super simple to make.

• Firstly, whisk together 2 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of baking soda, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ginger, 1 teaspoon nutmeg and ½ teaspoon salt.
• Take another bowl. Whisk eggs, brown sugar, oil, sugar and vanilla extract.
• Add 3 cups of grated carrots to this mixture and mix well once again. Mix the wet ingredients with dry ingredients and combine well.
• Pre-heat the oven to 350°F for 15 minutes and then add the batter to 2 separate cake trays.
• Leave in the oven to bake for 30-35 minutes.
• While it is baking, make the cream cheese frosting. Pour 8 ounces cream cheese into a large bowl and mix with an electric handheld mixer.
• Once smooth, add ½ cup of butter and mix again. Add 2-3 cups of powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Once the cakes are baked, add the cream cheese frosting between the two separate cakes, and then cover the cake with the leftover frosting. Leave it to cool and set for 30 minutes.

Serve with coffee.

It’s no doubt that cakes and celebrations go hand-in-hand. Let’s celebrate this Christmas with some interesting Christmas cake recipes. What are you waiting for? Head out to Wonderchef and get all the kitchenware and moulds required for baking your Christmas cake!