Traditional Christmas cupcake English: recipe with photo

English Christmas cake is a traditional festive pastry. One of the distinguishing features is that during the preparation of the dish, a large number of spices, dried fruits and alcohol impregnation are used.

History of the creation of dishes

Traditional English Christmas fruitcake Has its predecessor. The founder of this delicious baking is the ancient Roman ritual cake, which was prepared from porridge (mainly barley), pine nuts, raisins and pomegranate seeds. His appearance and taste, especially, he reminded me of kutya. In the Middle Ages in the recipe dishes began to add dried fruits, spices and honey, and since the XVI century - sugar.

Traditional Recipe

Christmas cupcake (English version of it) was traditionally started to cook for 6 weeks before December 25, the Catholic Christmas. Why so early? There are reasons for that, and we will tell about it now.

In order to make a delicious English Christmas cake, you must first impregnate the filling components with alcohol. To this end, traditionally use rum, brandy, sherry, madera, cognac. Less commonly used and other strong spirits.

The filling of the dish has traditionally been assorted of raisins (light and dark), peeled citrus (orange and lemon) and candied fruit. In modern recipes, often use dried apricots, prunes, cherries, pineapple cubes, currants, dates and so on.

According to existing traditions, the weight of the filling should not exceed five hundred grams. It is placed in a jar and filled with alcohol (about 0.5 cup). Marinate the ingredients should not less than a week, they need to constantly mix. Then the dough was made. And the whole family took part in mixing the semi-finished product. By tradition, all its members could make any wishes of their own, which were necessarily fulfilled. Christmas Cupcake English Baked for four hours at a temperature of at least 140 degrees. Traditionally it was decorated with marzipan or white icing.

Modern techniques in the preparation of traditional baked goods

Currently, an English Christmas cake with dried fruits and nuts Prepare a little differently. The main difference is that this process is not given such an amount of time. Modern housewives skip the above steps and go immediately to the preparation of delicacies.

In order to give the baking a traditional flavor, a special marinade is made for the filling. Impregnation consists of a mixture of alcohol and very strong boiling tea. It is able to quickly absorb into dried fruits, candied fruits and nuts, giving them a slightly tart and unique taste. In the filling at the present time quite often even cheese is added.

We offer a few simple modern recipes for this batch.

English Christmas cupcake. Recipe with a photo

First we prepare the filling. For this, half a kilo of a mixture of dark raisins, candied fruits, chopped prunes and nuts should be poured with a small amount of good cognac. Stir the mixture, add vanillin and a drop of rum essence. Let it marinate.

English Christmas cake with dried fruits and nuts Prepared from a very high-calorie dough.

Two packets of butter should be grinded with 450 g of sand. As a result, you should get a magnificent foam. Mix six hundred grams of flour with a small spoonful of soda. Wash the twelve eggs. Next, we begin to gradually knead the dough. In the creamy-sugar mixture periodically add flour and one egg. Thoroughly mix. At the very end, add stuffing. Put the mass in the mold. Pre-it must be oiled and sprinkled with flour or a mango. Cook in the oven without opening it.

After the first lifting of the dough on the surface, it is recommended to make small strips with a sharp knife. This will allow the product to keep its shape. Christmas Cupcake English must Bake for about fifty minutes. Ready meals can be decorated with powdered sugar. We cut into portions and serve.

English Christmas cupcake "Every Day"

Yolks from ten eggs to mix with 400 grams of sand and butter (one and a half pack). Grind all ingredients to white. Put the stuffing: raisins (200 g) and crushed candied fruits (100 g), vanillin to taste. Pour half a kilo of flour. Stir all the ingredients very carefully. At the very end, add the whipped whites. Very carefully knead the dough and put it in a round shape. Be sure to anoint it with butter. Cook in the oven for about fifty minutes, putting the temperature at 220 degrees.

After the cupcake has cooled, it can be served for tea.

Dark Christmas cupcake with icing "Magnificent"

This delicious dessert is prepared longer than previous versions. But the result will be appreciated by all guests at the table. We offer a recipe by which you can prepare a real festive English Christmas cake. The photo is not able to convey the magnificent aroma and unique taste of this dish, but it will help you to decide on the design. So, let's begin.

The first day in the morning we are engaged in stuffing. To do this, mix two hundred and fifty grams of dark raisins and the same amount of light, one hundred and seventy-five grams of chopped cherry in chocolate, two hundred grams of chopped dried apricots and a handful of candied fruits. Pour all the brandy and leave for a day, and if possible for two.

The next day we start with the test. Blend thoroughly with the blender the following ingredients: three hundred grams of flour, a pinch of grated nutmeg, two packets of soft butter, four hundred grams of cane sugar, five eggs, orange and lemon zest, a large spoonful of black molasses and a quarter of a glass of chopped almonds. At the very end, be sure to put a pinch of ground seasonings (coriander and cinnamon). Now you can add a neat stuffing.

Put the dough in a round shape, which is recommended to put oiled paper both below and on the sides, tightly pressing it to the edges. Then, with the other side of the spoon, spread the mixture. From above it is better to put a double layer of baking paper. Bake the cake for at least four hours. The indicator of readiness is that the kneaded dough will remain dry and clean.

After this, leave the cake to cool for twenty minutes. Then pull out of the form and take out the paper. Carefully pierce the skewer base, making equal intervals, and carefully pour cognac into the holes. After complete cooling it is recommended to wrap the product in a double layer of baking paper, and then also in foil. Leave for a day.

A win-win recipe for protein glaze

The next day we finish preparing our festive English cake.

To prepare the glaze, whip the egg white for two minutes to make it foam. You can do this in many ways - a mixer, a hand mixer or a simple fork. The main thing - the process should not stop for a second. Next, we start gradually pouring powdered sugar. You will need at least half a glass, perhaps more. When the glaze thickens, pour a small spoonful of lemon juice. Continue to beat for thirty seconds. Now we very quickly lubricate the whole surface of the cake with apricot jam, and on top - with the resulting glaze. Sprinkle with stars or any other decorations. Once the top layer has completely hardened, the dish can be cut into portions and served for tea.

A dark Christmas cake with glaze "Magnificent", prepared according to this recipe, can be stored for a long time if certain rules are observed. Let us dwell on this in more detail.

How to store pastries

Christmas cake (English), if it is properly cooked, can be kept long enough - up to three months. For the beginning it is recommended to put the baking in parchment paper or foil.

In addition, the cupcake should be watered with strong alcohol once every two to three days. As a result, alcohol will evaporate, and dessert will remain fragrant and juicy.