Christmas cake is an English tradition. It began as plum porridge. Porridge is a food commonly eaten as a breakfast cereal dish, made by heating or boiling ground, crushed or chopped starchy plant, typically grain, in milk. People ate the porridge on Christmas Eve after a day of fasting. It makes with dried fruits, honey, and spices with a porridge mixture. Later it turned into a Christmas pudding.
In the 16 century oatmeal is removed from its recipe and added butter, wheat flour, eggs, etc. For Christmas people made cakes with seasonal dried fruits and spices. The spices represent the exotic eastern spices brought by the Wise Men when they came to meet Infant Jesus. Christmas cakes are made in different ways. But generally, they are the varients of fruit cakes.
All Christmas cakes are made in advance. Many make them in the month of November. Keep the cake upside down in an air-tight container. A small amount of vine, brandy, or whiskey is poured every week until Christmas. This is called “feeding” the cake.
This Christmas may bring the sweetness of cakes into your family by preparing homemade cakes. The joy of making together adds extra love among the family members.