Recipe: Christmas cake

During the Christmas period, Cyprus homes are filled with the aromas of warmth and celebration because to the popular traditional cake known as Christmas cake. This cake, which combines fruit preserves, nuts, spices, and a little bit of brandy, is well-known for its rich combination of sweet and nutty flavors. This recipe has been tried and tested and is excellent to make a Christmas cake.

Christmas cake

Cypriot Christmas traditions are perfectly represented in this festive cake. The dessert has a delicious texture and a well balanced sweetness, and it's loaded with handmade fruit preserves, a variety of nuts, and notes of cinnamon and nutmeg. As part of the Christmas custom, Cypriots share this delicacy with their loved ones, which they treasure throughout the Christmas holiday season.

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 50 g cherry spoon sweet
• 50 g bitter orange spoon sweet
• 50 g walnut spoon sweet
• 50 g kumquat spoon sweet
• 300 g all-purpose flour
• 5 eggs
• 80 g brown sugar
• 170 g margarine, melted
• 30 g brandy
• 50 g carob honey
• Zest and juice of 1 orange
• 50 g raisins
• 50 g almonds, lightly ground
• 50 g hazelnuts, lightly ground
• 50 g walnuts, lightly ground
• 100 ml whole milk
• 50 g ground coconut
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon rosewater
• 1 tablespoon baking powder

For the glaze:

• 200 g icing sugar
• 2 drops lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons rosewater
• 2–3 tablespoons lukewarm water

Cooking instructions

Prepare the fruit preserves:

1. The day before baking, rinse the fruit preserves under water to remove the syrup. Let them dry completely, then chop them into small pieces.

Prepare the cake batter:

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F) with the fan setting.
2. In a bowl, toss the prepared fruit preserves with 150 g of the flour until well-coated. Set aside.
3. In a mixer bowl, combine the eggs, brown sugar, melted margarine, brandy, carob honey, orange juice, orange zest, raisins, nuts, milk, coconut, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, vanilla extract, rosewater, the remaining flour, and baking powder. Mix everything together using a whisk attachment until fully combined.
4. Add the flour-coated fruit preserves to the batter and mix again until evenly distributed.

Bake the cake:

1. Grease a 20 cm cake pan (preferably one with a hole in the center) and lightly dust it with flour.
2. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly.
3. Bake for 1 to 1½ hours, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
4. Once baked, remove the cake from the oven and let it cool completely before glazing.

Prepare the glaze:

1. In a bowl, mix the icing sugar, lemon juice, rosewater, and lukewarm water until smooth and fully combined.
2. Pour the glaze over the cooled cake, allowing it to set and harden.

Decorate (optional):

1. Decorate the cake with Christmas-themed decorations or candies to add a festive touch.

The Cypriot Christmas cake is a festive treat that brings the essence of Christmas straight to your table. Its rich, nutty, and fruity flavors, combined with a beautiful glaze, make it an irresistible addition to any holiday gathering. Try this recipe and enjoy an authentic taste this Christmas!