Christmas countdown - week one.
And so December is here and it's ok for a few twinkly lights to start appearing around the house!
I spent a happy half hour fashioning this star from a few spare twigs I found at the back of the shed and then winding ivy and lights around it.
Pinterest has a lot to answer for!
And December, of course, also means baking and more specifically baking the Christmas cake.
After last year's success with this recipe for a chocolate Christmas cake and following a request from younger dear daughter, I have made the same cake again.
Fear not, it is still the rich, fruity, boozy cake beloved by so many, but with the addition of some luscious melted dark chocolate.
Perfect!
Here it is in its naked state straight from the oven, ready, when cooled, to be tucked into a tin and anointed with brandy at regular intervals over the next few weeks.
Are your festive preparations under way yet?
Some people have had snow I hear, but not us - unless a few brief flakes over the space of 5 minutes counts!
Wishing you a good week ahead.
Annie
x
Your star looks very festive and the cake looks delish (would never have thought of adding chocolate to a Christmas cake). I've made two cakes. The first one ended up in the bin as I'd baked it at the wrong temperature. I think the word 'charred' describes it very nicely. The pudding was more successful, as were the mince pies but I've eaten those.
ReplyDeleteOh no! Easily done though! I'm glad the pudding and mince pies were a success. :)
DeleteNot a chance of any prep yet in this house. We're the same every year - all last minute wonders, except for the pudding. I do like to make sure there's plenty of pudding, But who knows? There's always a chance that this year could be different.
ReplyDeleteOh yes - pudding. I do love Christmas pudding though have to admit that I haven't made a Christmas pudding for a long time. I think I'm put off by the long steaming they require. Hoping your Mum is on the mend x
DeleteI would never have thought of putting chocolate in a fruit cake. Can you taste it with all the other ingredients or does just add a depth of flavour? I love your star and feel like trying one myself... I need to get going with Christmas prep this week.
ReplyDeleteHi Gina, the cake doesn't taste particularly chocolatey but it does add depth as you say. The original recipe (in link) has chocolate ganache topping which probably is wonderful, but wouldn't keep very long,so I just do marzipan.
DeleteOops! Sorry, just realised that the recipe in the link doesn't have chocolate ganache, but I saw a very similar one which did!
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