Chai Berry Orange Christmas Cake Recipes

CHAI & BERRY ORANGE CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• Soak the dried fruit in strong brewed Baby, It's Cold Outside Chai Tea for at least 2 hours.
• In a mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugar, eggs and cinnamon until smooth. Mix in the fruit, cranberries and orange zest until nicely distributed. Then sift the flour and fold it into the batter.
• Decant the mixture into lined round cake tin and smooth the surface with a spatula.
• Bake at 150C for 1.5 - 2 hours or until a skewer comes out of the cake clean.
• Cool the cake on a wire rack before glazing.
• For the glaze: heat 1 cup of water and brew 2 Berry Orange tea bags for 10 minutes. Remove the tea bags, boil the tea in a pan and add 1 cup of sugar. Heat on low for 10 minutes until all the sugar has dissolved and the volume reduced by half.
• Let it cool for 20 minutes before drizzling over the cake. Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

CHAI CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F/170°C
• Grease and flour a round cake pan (8"/20 cm).
• Stir hot water into Chai Latte until blended. Measure 1/2 cup/125 mL of the chai latte for the cake and set aside 2 tbsp/30 mL for glaze.
• Mix flour, baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, cloves, ginger and salt. Set aside.
• Beat sugar and butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until fluffy.
• Beat in eggs and vanilla until smooth and blended.
• Gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with 1/2 cup Chai Latte until smooth.
• Pour into pan.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
• Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack.
• Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Spread Chai glaze over top of cake, allowing some to drizzle down side. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon.
• For glaze, melt butter in 1-quart/litre saucepan over medium heat.
• Stir in remaining ingredients until smooth. Drizzle glaze on cake. If desired, grate cinnamon on top as garnish.

GLUTEN AND SUGAR FREE CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• Chop dates into small pieces and place in a pan with the water.
• Bring to the boil and simmer over a low heat for approimately 10 minutes until the dates are soft.
• Cool the date mixture.
• Process or beat together the date mixture, oil, ground almonds, spice, eggs and flours until they are well blended.
• Stir in the dried fruit and mix well by hand.
• Place into a lined and greased 6"- 8" cake tin and bake at Gas Mark 3, 330 oF, 170 oC for approximately 30 minutes, then lower the temperature to Gas Mark 1, 290 oF, 145 oC for a further 45 minutes.
• Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes in the tin, then turn out onto a wire tray.
• Remove the lining paper and allow to cool.
• Store in the fridge and eat within 2 weeks, or freeze (in slices).

IRISH CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°F.
• Brush bottom and sides of 9 x 3 springform pan with 2 tbsp butter.
• Dust with 2 tbsp flour, tilting to coat and flipping and tapping to remove excess.
• Combine cherries, raisins, currants, candied peel and angelica in a bowl.
• Add 1/2 cup flour and toss to coat evenly; set aside.
• In large bowl cream softened butter and sugar by beating with a wooden spoon against edges until light and fluffy.
• Beat in eggs one at a time, then slowly beat in remaining flour, allspice and salt.
• Combine nuts with fruit mixture and add to batter slowly, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Pour batter into pan and spread evenly with spatula.
• Bake on middle rack for 1 1/2 hours or until top is light golden or a cake tester comes out clean.
• Cool completely before removing from pan.

WHITE CHOCOLATE, ORANGE & CRANBERRY CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Rub a little butter over the base and sides of two 20cm cake tins (use cake tins rather than sandwich tins as the higher sides work better), then line the base and sides with baking parchment. Melt 150g butter with 100g of the chocolate in a bowl set over a small saucepan of gently simmering water - make sure the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water. Stir the butter and chocolate every min or so until it has melted. Set aside to cool a little.
• Meanwhile, measure 250g flour, 2 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp bicarb and 250g sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and add 150g yogurt, 2 tsp vanilla extract, half the orange zest and juice, 3 eggs and 2 tbsp milk. Whisk everything together, then stir in the melted butter and chocolate.
• When the cake mixture is smooth (this makes a very wet pourable batter), divide it equally between the two cake tins. Bake on the middle shelf for 25-30 mins, they will look golden and evenly risen when cooked. Check they are done by pushing a skewer into the centre of the cakes - it should come out clean. If there is any wet cake mixture on the skewer, return the cake to the oven for a few more mins, then check again.
• Leave the cakes to cool in their tins for 5 mins, then transfer to a cooling rack. Wash out the tins and repeat steps 1 and 2, to make two more sponges in total. You can make them a day or two before icing, then wrap them in a double layer of cling film once cool. They can also be frozen for up to two months.
• To make the compote, simmer the cranberries and sugar in a small pan for 4-5 mins until jammy, then leave to cool.
• For the icing, melt the chocolate, either in 20-30 secs bursts in a microwave or in a bowl over simmering water. Set aside to cool a little. Roughly mash the butter and icing sugar together, then beat until smooth with an electric whisk or mixer. Add the chocolate and cream cheese and beat again until smooth.
• To assemble the cake, place one sponge on a cake board the same size as the sponge, then sandwich the other sponges on top with a little icing and the cranberry compote. Use the cake with the neatest edge, flipped upside down, on top to give your cake a good shape.
• Pile about half the remaining icing on top of the cake and use a palette knife to spread it thinly over the top and down the sides of the cake. This is a crumb coat, it catches any crumbs, ensuring the final layer looks clean and professional. Chill the cake for 10-20 mins to firm up the icing or leave it somewhere cool for longer. Spread the remaining icing over the top and sides of the cakes, giving it nice sharp edges. We've left some of the cake exposed for the 'naked' cake look, or cover it completely if you like. Will keep for three days.
• To decorate the cake: dot the top with meringue kisses that you've either bought or made yourself, edible snowflake decorations and gold leaf, if you like.See our guide to decorating a Christmas cake 3 ways for details on this design along with more decorating ideas.

CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• Sample the Vodka to check quality.
• Take a large bowl, check the Vodka again.
• to be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink.
• Repeat.
• Turn on the electric mixer.
• Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl.
• Add one teaspoon sugar.
• Beat again.
• At this point it is best to make sure that the Vodka is shtill OK.
• try another cup-- just in case.
• Turn off the mixerer.
• Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in a cup of dried fruit.
• Pick fruit up off floor.
• Mix on the turner.
• If the dried fruit gets stuck in the beaterers, pry it loose with a drewscriver.
• Sample the Vodka to check for tonsisticity.
• Next sift two cups of salt.
• Or something.
• Who giveshz a whip.
• Check the Vodka.
• Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.
• Add one table.
• Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink.
• Whatever you can find.
• Greash the oven.
• Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.
• Don't forget to beat off the turner.
• Finally throw the bowl through the window, finish the Vodka and kick the cat.
• Cherry Mistmas!

CHAI CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Line bottom and side of round pan, 8x1 1/2 inches, with cooking parchment paper. Grease paper with shortening; lightly flour. Place tea bags in boiling water in measuring cup; let stand 5 minutes. Remove tea bags, squeezing liquid into measuring cup. Add enough water to tea to measure 2/3 cup. Measure 1/2 cup tea for cake; reserve 2 tablespoons tea for glaze.
• In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, the salt, ginger, cardamom and cloves; set aside. In large bowl, beat granulated sugar and 1/2 cup butter with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until fluffy. Beat in eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth and blended. Gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with 1/2 cup tea until smooth. Pour into pan.
• Bake 28 to 33 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in all remaining ingredients until smooth. Spread Chai Glaze over top of cooled cake, allowing some to drizzle down side. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon.