Christmas cake recipes
How early should you make your Christmas cake? It’s a good question, and many of us love to celebrate each year by baking on Stir-Up Sunday. What we do know is that no Christmas is complete without a wonderful classic Christmas cake.
This collection of our best recipes includes the hugely popular rich fruit cake by Mary Berry. And when it comes to decorating, see our page on 10 ways to decorate a Christmas cake.
It’s not all about the classics, though – there’s room for some innovation in this collection. Edd Kimber’s chocolate orange blackout cake will be the star of any table, our mince pie loaf cake is a delicious twist, this chocolate gingerbread Christmas cake adds something special and Chetna Makan’s saffron and pistachio version brings the wow-factor.
Showing 1-16 of 29 recipes
Save recipe
Chocolate orange
Chocolate orange blackout cake
Edd Kimber's blackout cake has tiers of chocolate sponge and an orange mascarpone filling. A perfect festive bake for chocolate orange fans.
-
Challenge
Save recipe
Christmas cakes
Mulled fig and apple Christmas cake
This lighter take on Christmas cake is packed with fruit, adding figs and apples to the classic mix. Mulled cider brings comforting warmth.
-
Medium
Save recipe
Christmas cakes
Rick Stein’s Christmas cake
Rick Stein's recipes never fail to deliver and his Christmas cake is no exception. Follow Rick's step-by-step recipe for a classic iced cake.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Christmas cakes
Mary Berry’s rich fruit Christmas cake
Mary Berry's rich traditional Christmas cake recipe is filled with fruit, almonds, brandy and treacle. It's the perfect pudding for your festive feast.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Chocolate orange
Chocolate orange cake with Cointreau drizzle
Try this crowdpleasing chocolate orange cake with Cointreau-laced icing as a festive alternative to a traditional Christmas cake.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Christmas cakes
Mini Dundee cakes
These festive, fruit-filled mini Dundee cakes with a burnished marzipan crown make a fantastic alternative to the traditional Christmas cake.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Christmas baking
Mince pie loaf cake with streusel filling
This mince pie loaf cake is an alternative Christmas cake with a surprise in the middle. For those who find Christmas cake too rich...
-
Easy
Save recipe
Christmas cakes
Dundee cake
A Dundee cake makes for a less rich, crumblier alternative to the hefty traditional Christmas cake. Why not give it a try?
-
Medium
Save recipe
Christmas cakes
Chocolate gingerbread Christmas cake
This chocolate and gingerbread Christmas cake recipe more than matches a classic fruitcake in the seasonal flavour stakes, plus you can make ahead of time.
-
Medium
Save recipe
Christmas cakes
Quick and easy Christmas cake
Christmas cakes usually take about 3 hours to cook, but our quick Christmas cake recipe is ready in half the time – perfect for a last-minute fix!
-
Medium
Save recipe
Christmas baking
Spiced rum butter mincemeat cake
This rich Christmas cake uses our spiced rum butter mincemeat for extra festive flavour and an even more indulgent twist.
-
Medium
Save recipe
Christmas cakes
Easy traditional Christmas cake recipe
Our easy traditional Christmas cake recipe can be customised to your taste. Make it up to 3 months ahead to allow the flavours to improve.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Christmas cakes
Bettys traditional Christmas cake
Looking for a traditional Christmas cake? This recipe from Bettys, the Harrogate bakers, is made with fruits, spices and sherry.
-
Easy
Save recipe
Christmas cakes
Chetna Makan’s saffron and pistachio Christmas cake
Want an alternative Christmas cake? Chetna Makan's recipe is made with saffron and pistachios, soaked dried fruit and beautifully balanced spices.
-
Medium
Save recipe
Celebration cakes
Royal icing
Mima Sinclair shares her quick and easy royal icing recipe – perfect for icing your Christmas cake or for building a gingerbread house.
-
Easy
Subscribe to our magazine
Food stories, skills and tested recipes, straight to your door... Enjoy 5 issues for just £5 with our special introductory offer.
Subscribe
Unleash your inner chef
Looking for inspiration? Receive the latest recipes with our newsletter