Christmas Cake with Pecan Marzipan and Brandy Butter Icing

A rich fruit cake topped with homemade pecan marzipan and brandy butter icing, perfect for festive celebrations.

Estimated Nutrition

Per Serving Total
Calories 937.7 kcals 11252.4 kcals
Carbohydrates 148.5 grams 1782.1 grams
Fat 35.5 grams 425.5 grams
Protein 9.9 grams 118.2 grams
Cook Time
150 mins
Produces
12 people
Allergies
Vegetarian
Vegan
Dairy Free
Gluten Free

Ingredients

BakingIngredients
CondimentsSauces
2
tbsp
Apricot Jam
boiled and sieved
Dairy
200
ml
250
g
Unsalted Butter
cut into pieces
6
piece
Eggs
medium free-range
3
piece
Egg Yolks
free-range
50
g
Butter
for frosting
25
ml
Double Cream
for frosting
Fruits
350
g
350
g
350
g
Prunes
chopped and pitted
GrainsCereals
Liquids
1
piece
Brandy
for feeding the cake
25
ml
Brandy
for frosting
NutsSeeds
200
g
Pecans
finely ground
1
tsp
Cinnamon
ground
Other
50
g

Steps

  • Preheat the oven to 170°C and line a 25cm round cake tin with non-stick paper.
  • Boil the syrup, treacle, honey, sugar, cream, and spices in a saucepan.
  • Pour into a bowl, stir in butter until melted, then add orange and lemon extracts.
  • Beat in eggs, stir in fruit, and then fold in the mixed flour and soda.
  • Bake for 2 to 2.5 hours or until a skewer comes out clean.
  • Cool in the tin, remove, and spoon with brandy before wrapping for 3-4 days.
  • Combine ground pecans and icing sugar in a bowl.
  • Whisk sugar, yolks, glucose, honey, glycerine, cinnamon, and vanilla over low heat until hot.
  • Stir the hot mixture into the pecans to form a paste and cool.
  • Roll the marzipan into a 1cm thick disc slightly wider than the cake.
  • Brush cake with jam and press it upside down onto the marzipan.
  • Trim excess marzipan, smooth the sides, and let dry for 4-5 days.
  • Melt butter and mix with icing sugar, cream, and brandy until smooth.
  • Spread icing onto the cake to create peaks and let set before dusting with sugar.