Source: Nelea Reazanteva, AdobeStock The New Year holidays are rarely complete without aromatic pastries with spices and dried fruits. When it's cold outside and a festive atmosphere fills the air, Christmas cake becomes a special treat. We've gathered tried-and-true recipes that won't let you down! Here are options for those who love classics and for those who are ready for culinary experiments!
1. Christmas Cake with Dried Fruits, Zest, and Chocolate
Source: AdobeStock A rich and vibrant citrus aroma that is unmistakable.
You will need:
For the dough: 200 g butter, 4 eggs, 100 g sugar, 350 g flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 0.5 tsp ground nutmeg, 2 pinches vanilla, 1 pinch salt.
For the filling: 500 g dried fruits, zest of 1/2 lemon, zest of 1/2 orange, 50 g nuts, 50 g chocolate, 50 ml rum.
Preparation: Soak the chopped dried fruits in rum for 4 hours, or preferably, for a day. Beat the softened butter with sugar until fluffy using a mixer. While continuously beating, add the eggs one by one.
Separately combine 300 g of flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and spices. Fold this mixture into the dough, then gradually incorporate the remaining flour. Finally, add the chopped nuts, chocolate, dried fruits, and zest.
Carefully spoon the batter into the mold and bake the cake for approximately 75-90 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius, depending on its size. Check for doneness with a toothpick or matchstick – it should come out clean.
2. Christmas Cake with Honey and Cognac
Source: AdobeStock An aromatic cake with a warm honey flavor and noble notes of cognac.
You will need:
For the dough: 100 g butter, 2 eggs, 150 g sugar, 120-150 g flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tbsp honey, 1 pinch vanilla, 1 pinch salt.
For the filling: 100 g dried fruits, 50 g walnuts, 2 tsp cognac.
Preparation: Rinse and chop the dried fruits, then soak them in cognac for several hours. Beat the butter with sugar and honey using a mixer, add the eggs, and beat again.
Add salt, vanilla, baking powder, and half of the flour, mix, and gradually incorporate the remaining flour. Add the chopped nuts and dried fruits to the dough, spoon it into the mold, and bake the cake for 40 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius.
3. Chocolate Christmas Cake
Source: AdobeStock Especially for lovers of chocolate desserts and pastries.
You will need:
For the dough: 150 g butter, 3 eggs, 150 g brown sugar, 200 g flour, 100 g dark chocolate, 3 tsp cocoa, 1.5 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp ground cardamom, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 0.5 tsp ground cloves, 1 pinch salt.
For the filling: 300 g figs, dates, and other dried fruits, zest of 1 orange, 100 g walnuts, 100 ml rum or cognac.
Preparation: Soak the chopped dried fruits in rum or cognac in advance – you can do this for a day. Toast the nuts in a dry pan and chop them finely.
Separately mix the flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa, and all spices, and melt the chocolate with the butter. Beat the eggs with sugar until fluffy using a mixer, pour in the melted butter and chocolate, and beat again.
Then add the dry mixture, nuts, dried fruits, and zest, and mix the thick dough thoroughly. Spoon it into the mold and bake the Christmas cake for about 1 hour in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius.
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4. Christmas Cake with Tangerines
Source: AdobeStock What could be more wintery and festive?
You will need:
For the dough: 100 g butter, 3 eggs, 100 g sugar, 150 g flour, 1 tsp baking powder.
For the filling: 150 g dried fruits, 2 tangerines, 20 g butter, 1 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp orange liqueur or other alcohol.
Preparation: Beat the softened butter with sugar until fluffy using a mixer. While continuing to beat, gradually add the eggs, and then the sifted flour with baking powder. If desired, add vanilla or spices.
Separately, lightly fry the peeled tangerine segments with a spoonful of sugar and a small piece of butter. Add the dried fruits, pour in the liqueur, and heat until the alcohol evaporates.
Let the filling cool, fold it into the dough, and spoon everything into the mold. Bake the cake for 50-60 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius. Afterward, sprinkle the finished Christmas cake with powdered sugar or drizzle with glaze to taste.
5. Lemon Christmas Cake with Cherries
Source: AdobeStock With a refreshing lemon tang and bright cherry accents.
You will need:
For the dough: 200 g butter, 4 eggs, 2 egg yolks, 150 g sugar, 300 g flour, 10 g baking powder.
For the filling: 150 g frozen cherries, 1/2 lemon.
For the glaze: 100 g powdered sugar, 2 egg whites, 1/2 lemon, 1 pinch salt.
Preparation: Beat the softened butter with sugar until fluffy using a mixer. While continuing to beat, gradually add 4 eggs and 2 yolks.
Add the flour with baking powder, mix, then add the juice of half a lemon, a little zest, and chopped cherries from which excess water has drained. Pour the batter into the mold and bake the cake for about 35-40 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius.
Separately mix 100 g of powdered sugar and the juice of the other half of the lemon until smooth. Beat 2 egg whites with salt until stiff peaks form and gradually add the sugar mixture. Cover the finished cake with the resulting glaze.
6. Orange Christmas Cake with Candied Fruits
Source: AdobeStock Sweet inclusions of candied fruits harmoniously complement the citrus aftertaste.
You will need:
For the dough: 200 g butter, 3 eggs, 150 g sugar, 220-250 g flour, 10 g baking powder.
For the filling: 150 g dried fruits, 150 g candied fruits, 100 ml orange juice, 2 tbsp orange zest, ground cinnamon and spices to taste.
Preparation: Pour orange juice over the rinsed dried fruits and add spices to taste. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, cover, and leave overnight at least.
Beat the softened butter with sugar and gradually beat in the eggs, continuing to beat. Fold in the flour with baking powder in portions, followed by the dried fruits and candied fruits. Spoon the batter into the mold and bake the cake for 1 hour in the oven at 160 degrees Celsius until a dry matchstick comes out clean.
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7. Christmas Cake with Honey and Jam
Source: AdobeStock All the best in one recipe!
You will need:
For the dough: 100 g butter, 2 eggs, 50 g sugar, 30 g honey, 30 g jam, 100 g flour, 50 g almond flour, spices to taste.
For the filling: 500 g dried fruits, alcohol or strong tea.
Preparation: Soak the dried fruits in alcohol or strong tea overnight or for a day in advance. Beat the softened butter with sugar until fluffy using a mixer and, continuing to beat, beat in the eggs. Then fold in the honey, jam, and your favorite spices, followed by both types of flour. Add the dried fruits, spoon the batter into the mold, cover with foil, and bake the cake for 2-2.5 hours in the oven at 130-140 degrees Celsius.
8. Christmas Cake with Sour Cream and Nuts
Source: AdobeStock A tender and moist cake with a soft texture. It will leave no one indifferent!
You will need:
For the dough: 200 g butter, 400 g sour cream, 3 eggs, 150 g sugar, 300 g flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda.
For the filling: 150 g walnuts, 2 tsp ground cinnamon.
Preparation: Beat the softened butter with sugar until fluffy using a mixer, add sour cream, and beat again. While continuing to beat, add the eggs one by one, then add the flour with baking powder and baking soda.
Chop and mix the nuts with cinnamon. Spoon half of the dough into the mold, spread the nuts over it, and then cover with the remaining dough. Bake the cake for approximately 1 hour in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius.
9. Christmas Cake with Apples
Source: AdobeStock An airy cake with a light fruity tang and aromatic spices.
You will need:
For the dough: 100 g butter, 2 eggs, 100 g sugar, 250 g flour, 1 tsp baking powder, salt, spices.
For the filling: 150 g cottage cheese, 300 g apples, 30 g walnuts, zest of 1 orange, 20 g butter, 20 g sugar.
Preparation: Peel and chop the apples, then sauté them in a pan with 20 g of butter and 20 g of sugar, stirring. Let the future filling cool.
Beat the remaining butter with sugar and eggs using a mixer, add the flour with baking powder and spices to taste. Fold in the orange zest, cottage cheese, chopped nuts, and apples. Spoon the batter into the mold and bake the cake for 40-45 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius.
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10. Cottage Cheese Christmas Cake
Source: AdobeStock Cottage cheese makes any pastry juicier and lighter.
You will need:
For the dough: 200 g butter, 200 g cottage cheese, 2 eggs, 150 g sugar, 500 g flour, 10 g baking powder, zest of 1 lemon or orange, 10 g vanilla sugar, spices, powdered sugar.
For the filling: 100 g raisins, 80 g any nuts, 120 g mixed dried fruits, 100 ml red wine.
Preparation: Soak the raisins and dried fruits in wine or other alcohol overnight. Rub the sugar with the zest, add the softened butter, and beat until fluffy. While continuing to beat, add the eggs one by one.
Then add the grated cottage cheese, followed by the chopped nuts and spices to taste. Gradually add the flour with baking powder, knead the dough, then fold in the dried fruits with raisins and chopped nuts.
Form two preparations and bake them for 60-70 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius. Brush the hot cakes with butter and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Let them cool completely and wrap them in parchment for storage.
11. Healthy Christmas Cake
Source: AdobeStock For those who care about their diet even during the holidays!
You will need:
For the dough: 200 g cottage cheese, 120 g butter, 2 eggs, 80 ml orange juice, 150 g rice flour, 150 g oat flour, 100 g erythritol, 1 tbsp baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg.
For the filling: 200 g dried fruits.
Preparation: Blend the cottage cheese, butter, eggs, orange juice, and sugar substitute. Add all dry ingredients, then the rinsed and chopped dried fruits. Pour the batter into the mold and bake the cake for about 40 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius.
12. Ginger Christmas Cake without Butter
Source: AdobeStock Spicy pastry with a distinct aroma of ginger and spices.
You will need:
For the dough: 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1/2 cup honey, 2 bananas, 2 eggs, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 300 g flour, 2 tbsp grated ginger, 0.5 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tbsp ground ginger, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, salt.
For the filling: 200 g candied fruits and dried fruits.
Preparation: Beat the eggs with sugar until fluffy using a mixer, pour in the honey with vegetable oil, and beat again. Add baking soda, baking powder, salt, fresh ginger, and all spices, mix thoroughly, then add the mashed bananas.
Gradually add the flour, and at the very end, fold in the candied fruits and dried fruits. Pour the batter into the mold and bake the cake for 1 hour in the oven at 150-160 degrees Celsius. Check for doneness with a wooden stick.
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13. Pumpkin Christmas Cake
Source: AdobeStock Not only delicious, but also very beautiful when sliced!
You will need:
For the dough: 400 g pumpkin puree, 100 g butter, 3 egg whites, 300 g sugar, 400-450 g flour, 2 oranges, 1 tsp baking powder, salt, vanilla, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cardamom, ground nutmeg, and other spices to taste.
For the filling: 100 g walnuts, 150 g cranberries.
Preparation: Mix all dry ingredients, finely chop the nuts, and scald the oranges with boiling water, remove the zest, and squeeze 50-60 ml of juice. Beat the softened butter with sugar using a mixer, add the egg whites, and beat for another 5 minutes. Then add the zest, and gradually add the dry mixture.
Add the pumpkin puree and half of the orange juice, mix thoroughly, and add the remaining juice until the dough reaches the consistency of thick sour cream. After that, fold in the nuts and cranberries, spoon everything into the mold, and bake the cake for approximately 1 hour in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius.
14. Boiled Christmas Cake
Source: AdobeStock The main feature of this recipe is the dough preparation technique.
You will need:
For the dough: 250 ml full-fat milk, 100 g butter, 1 egg, 200 g brown sugar, 250 g flour, 1 tsp baking powder, spices to taste.
For the filling: 150-200 g raisins.
Preparation: Pour the milk into a thick-bottomed saucepan to prevent burning. Add sugar, raisins, butter, and all spices. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer for 20 minutes, stirring. Let the mixture cool completely.
Beat the eggs and mix them with flour and baking powder. Gradually add the milk mixture, resulting in a rather liquid dough. Pour it into the mold and bake the cake for 50-60 minutes in the oven at 160 degrees Celsius.
15. Christmas Cake with Marzipan
Source: AdobeStock Here's how to properly add marzipan to your Christmas baking.
You will need:
For the dough: 300 g butter, 5 eggs, 250 g sugar, 200 g wheat flour, 50 g almond flour, 50 g corn flour, 10 g baking powder.
For the filling: 150 g marzipan, 200 g nuts, 200 g dried fruits, 200 ml rum or orange juice.
Preparation: Soak the dried fruits in rum or orange juice a day in advance. Toast and finely chop the nuts, and beat the softened butter with sugar until fluffy. Beat the eggs into the butter mixture one by one, continuing to beat.
Mix all types of flour with baking powder and add them to the dough. Grate half of the marzipan and finely chop the other half. Fold all the marzipan, nuts, and dried fruits into the mixture.
Mix everything thoroughly again, spoon into the mold, and bake the cake for 1 hour in the oven at 160 degrees Celsius. Finally, you can soak the hot pastry with the leftover alcohol from soaking the dried fruits.