Baking with Berea Mail: Scrumptious Christmas Cake recipe
Glenwood home industries store owner Carol Phipps says she has various bestsellers at her store over the festive season, from mince pies to gingerbread houses, but she hardly comes across customers who don’t love a good old-fashioned Christmas cake.
WHETHER it is a plain croissant, a moderately sweet milk tart, or an ultra-rich chocolate brownie, whatever suits the taste pallet, most people love indulging in baked goods! And with so many recipes to choose from and a range of flavours to create over the festive season, it can be hard to decide which recipe to try out in your kitchen. It can also be a task to find a recipe that is easy to follow and one that produces effective and delicious results.
We paid a visit to Carol Phipps, owner of Carol’s Home Industries in Glenwood. Her quaint cake shop sells all sorts of sweet treats from brownies to cupcakes to delicious pies, such as her bestselling lemon meringue pie, and the store is beloved and frequented by the community of Glenwood. Established in 2007, the small, independent cake shop creates novelty cakes and tasty platters to suit every occasion and is located at 397 Che Guevara Road, Glenwood Village Centre, Durban.
Carol says she has various bestsellers at her store over the festive season, from mince pies to gingerbread houses, but she hardly comes across customers who don’t love a good old-fashioned Christmas cake. The Glenwood resident and shop owner shared a Christmas cake recipe with Berea Mail so you can re-create this delicious treat at home this Christmas. Enjoy!
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Christmas cake
(Makes 2 x 20cm cakes)
Ingredients:
1kg mixed fruit
200g cherries
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
200g margarine
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Cooking Instructions:
Boil the above ingredients in a pot for 10 minutes with a closed lid.
Leave to cool overnight in pot.
Add:
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons mixed spice
4 large eggs
Mix with a spoon till combined.
Prepare baking tins with grease-proof paper on the base and sides, and grease.
Bake for 15 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius, then turn the oven to 140 degrees and bake for a further 1 1/2 to 2 hours, depending on the oven.
Sprinkle with brandy and let cool in pans. Brush with extra brandy on both sides. And enjoy!
