The Christmas lights are up, the tree is decorated – but have you thought of your dessert menu for the festive day? Wendy Siu, founder of Heather & March, shares her exclusive recipe for an elegant winter woodland-inspired cake that’s sure to give a sweet ending to your holiday feast.

Two-Level or Multi-Level Snowy Christmas Cake

Fruit Cake

Note: Recipe is for an 8 inch cake. For the cake seen in the photo, triple the quantity to make a 9-inch and a 12-inch cake. For a one-level cake, double the quantity to make a 12-inch cake.

Ingredients:
150g unsalted butter
120g sugar
2 lightly beaten eggs
150g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 cup mixed dried fruit
50g candied cherries or orange
50g candied ginger
50g whole blanched almonds
1 cup dark rum
1 cup molasses

Method:
Preheat oven to 150C. Grease and line an 8-inch cake pan with parchment paper. Soak the dried fruits in rum until well absorbed. Beat butter and sugar until light and creamy. Gradually beat in the eggs, then fold in molasses, flour and the dried fruits. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan and decorate with whole almonds. Bake in preheated oven for 1.5 to 2 hours until golden. Test the cake with the skewer. If it comes out clean, remove from oven and let it cool for 30 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool further. The cake must be completely cool off before any icing can be applied.

Icing

Note: As seen in the photo for a 9-inch and 12-inch layered cake.

Ingredients:
8-10lb fondant (for harder surface) or royal icing (for smoother surface)
1lb gum paste for each color food colouring – green and gold with some mixing of other colours required
decorative ribbons

Method:
Roll out white fondant to desired size and lay it over the cake. Always leave extra length for ease of trimming the edges. Cushion it nicely with cake smoother. Repeat it again with the top tier cake if two level cake is to be made. Roll out marzipan (for almond taste flavor) or gum paste (for a sugary taste). Mix different colors until the desired colour and right consistency are obtained. Cut the gum paste with the gum paste cutter to make shapes of hollies or flowers. Add extra leafy details by using the gum paste decorative tools and pens. Place them on the cake and secure them with a bit of water if needed or with extra gum paste. Further decorate the cake with elegant ribbons and pinecones.

The post Snowy Christmas Cake Recipe appeared first on Home Journal.