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The best Christmas cake recipes

From classic recipes, chocolate and cherry and gin & tea - here are our all-time favourite Christmas cake recipes to try.

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best christmas cake recipes

Planning on making your own Christmas cake this year? Our cookery team have compiled over 30 of their favourite Christmas cake recipes for you to try.

Choosing the right Christmas cake for you and your guests can be half the job, so we've covered everything from classic Christmas cakes to break-the-mould festive bakes.

Some of our favourites include this spiced port and orange Christmas cake – which fills the kitchen with nostalgic Christmassy aromas as the fruit soaks in port overnight.

We love the richness of this chocolate cherry Christmas cake which uses cherry brandy, dried sour cherries and chocolate for full-on festive flavour.

Looking for a classic recipe to cook this Christmas? Try our best ever Christmas cake – it's one to repeat year after year.

One of our favourite things about Christmas cakes is decorating. There's something special about transforming a simple fruit cake into a festive showstopper. If you're looking for step-by-step advice on how to ice a Christmas cake then follow our easy guide.

Some of our favourite designs include this atmospheric Alpine Christmas cake decoration which has a mini gingerbread village on top – a slice of the cake laid on top and iced creates the appearance of a snowy mountain peak.

This magical forest cake uses piped Christmas trees on lolly sticks to create a woodland feel, little ones will love helping create their own snowy scene.

Remember - Stir Up Sunday is on 24th November this year (2024) and this is the weekend to bake your Christmas cake and get your Christmas pudding ready in time for the big day. Happy baking!

1

Cranberry and Pistachio Christmas Cake

cranberry and pistachio christmas cake

We’ve used Amaretto as the soaking liqueur, plus added pistachios, to give this aromatic cake a subtle Italian edge.

Recipe: Cranberry and Pistachio Christmas Cake

2

Fig and Ginger Christmas Cake

fig and ginger christmas cake

The 3 types of ginger in this recipe add some spicy warmth, but aren’t overwhelming. You can serve the cake as soon as its cool, but it will slice much more neatly after maturing.

Recipe: Fig and Ginger Christmas Cake

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3

Coffee and Walnut Christmas Cake

coffee and walnut christmas cake

An afternoon tea classic in fruit cake form. The notes of coffee pairs beautifully with the sweet fruit and walnut crunch.

Recipe: Coffee and Walnut Christmas Cake

4

Cherry and Almond Christmas Cake

best christmas cake recipes cherry and almond christmas cake

Swap out the cherries for whatever fruit you fancy in this Christmas cake, just make sure you keep the weight the same. Dried cranberries and roughly chopped dates would work well here too. For a more intense almond flavour, add 1/2tbsp extract to your cake batter.

Recipe: Cherry and Almond Christmas Cake

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5

Frosty Robin Cake

best christmas cake recipes frosty robin cake

Fun to model and easier than you might think, these snoozing sugar robins make for an adorable Christmas cake decoration.

Recipe: Frosty Robin Cake

6

Buttered Rum Christmas Cake

best christmas cake recipes buttered rum christmas cake

For our Christmas cake this year, we have soaked our fruit in rum and butter to give it a warm and creamy finish. Leave this cake to mature to get a deeper, richer flavour.

Recipe: Buttered Rum Christmas Cake

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7

Spiced Port and Orange Christmas Cake

christmas cake recipe spiced port and orange christmas cake

A Christmas cake fit for a crowd. This recipe is oh-so decadent with a good fruity squidge factor.

Recipe: Spiced Port and Orange Christmas Cake

8

Acorn Wreath Cake

christmas cake recipe acorn wreath cake

A simple yet elegant decoration idea to decorate your Christmas cake. We’ve topped with our Amaretti biscuits for added festive flavour and flair.

Recipe: Acorn Wreath Cake

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9

Magical forest Christmas cake

best christmas cake recipes magical forest christmas cake

This Christmas cake offers real wow factor. The bright green trees are so easy to make and all together, create a magical forest topping for your Christmas cake.

Recipe: Magical forest Christmas cake

10

Chocolate Stout Christmas Cake

best christmas cake recipes

Adding dark chocolate and stout makes for a rich, juicy Christmas cake that's livened up with a generous pinch of spice and tangy citrus zest. Deliciously moist, it doesn't need to be fed while it's maturing.

Recipe: Chocolate Stout Christmas Cake

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11

Silent Night Christmas Cake

best christmas cake recipes silent night christmas cake
Good Housekeeping UK

Our wintry Christmas cake decoration can be adapted to make the scene of your dreams.

Recipe: Silent Night Christmas Cake

12

Tropical Christmas Cake

best christmas cake recipes tropical christmas cake
Good Housekeeping UK

Traditional dried fruits have been given a Caribbean lift with juicy mango, warming rum and spicy ginger for a lighter bake.

Recipe: Tropical Christmas cake

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13

Gin and tea Christmas cake

best christmas cake recipes gin and tea christmas cake
Good Housekeeping UK

We celebrate two great British drinks, gin and tea, in this popular Christmas cake recipe.

Recipe: Gin and tea Christmas cake

14

Alpine Christmas cake

best christmas cake recipes alpine christmas cake
Good Housekeeping UK

Let our winter wonderland Christmas cake recipe transport you to a charming Swiss alpine village – it’s fun to make, too, with mini gingerbread houses for added festive flavour.

Recipe: Alpine Christmas cake

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15

Chocolate cherry Christmas cake

best christmas cake recipes chocolate cherry christmas cake
Good Housekeeping UK

Dark chocolate and sour cherry add richness and unctuous texture to this deeply fruited cake. Delicious with a warm cup of coffee or a glass of brandy.

Recipe: Chocolate cherry Christmas cake

16

Snowflake Sensation Christmas cake

best christmas cake recipes snowflake sensation christmas cake
Good Housekeeping UK

You can ice this fail-safe cake up to two weeks in advance, saving time in the busy lead-up to Christmas Day.

Recipe: Snowflake Sensation Christmas cake

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17

Spiced Orange Christmas Cake

best christmas cake recipes spiced orange christmas cake
Good Housekeeping UK

Full of festive orange and spices, this Christmas cake is best enjoyed fireside with friends and family.

Recipe:
Spiced orange Christmas cake

18

Best ever Christmas cake

christmas cake recipe
twomeows//Getty Images

Bursting with fruit and spices, our 'best ever Christmas cake' is hard to beat. Try it and you'll soon see why.

Recipe:
Christmas cake

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19

Christmas cake trifle

best christmas cake recipes christmas cake trifle
Good Housekeeping UK

Not a fan of classic fruit cake? Use Jamaican ginger or chocolate cake instead to jazz up this Christmas-worthy trifle.

Recipe: Christmas cake trifle

20

Creole Christmas Cake

best christmas cake recipes creole christmas cake
Good Housekeeping UK

Molasses and molasses sugar give this richly fruited Christmas cake a rich flavour we can't get enough of.

Recipe: Creole Christmas cake

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