Description
This Christmas Cake Tray Bake is a festive, moist, and flavorful treat perfect for sharing with family and friends during the holiday season. Packed with warming spices, mixed dried fruits, and crunchy nuts, it offers a delightful combination of textures and classic Christmas flavors. Easy to make and baked in a simple tray bake style, it’s an ideal celebratory dessert or afternoon tea accompaniment.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (190g) all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup (170g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup (60ml) milk
Add-ins
- 1 cup (150g) mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, sultanas, etc.)
- ½ cup (75g) chopped mixed nuts (such as walnuts or almonds)
Optional Garnishes
- Glacé cherries, for decoration
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and baking tray: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking tray or cake tin with parchment paper or grease it with butter and flour to prevent sticking.
- Sift the dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, and salt. Set this mixture aside.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large bowl, use a hand mixer or whisk to cream the softened unsalted butter with the granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes. This incorporates air, helping achieve a tender crumb.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat the eggs into the creamed mixture one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract to enhance the flavor.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet mixture, alternating with the milk to keep the batter smooth. Mix until just combined to avoid overworking the batter, which can make the cake dense.
- Fold in dried fruit and nuts: Gently fold in the mixed dried fruit and chopped nuts, making sure they are evenly distributed throughout the batter for bursts of flavor and texture.
- Bake the cake: Pour the batter into your prepared baking tray, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating the cake is cooked through.
- Cool and decorate: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes; then transfer it onto a wire rack to cool completely. Once cooled, optionally decorate with glacé cherries or dust with powdered sugar to add a festive touch.
- Serve: Slice the cooled and decorated cake into squares or rectangles and serve to your family and guests as a delightful holiday treat.
Notes
- Ensure your butter is softened to room temperature for easier creaming with sugar.
- Do not overmix the batter after adding the dry ingredients to keep the cake tender.
- Feel free to customize the mix-ins by adding finely chopped dried apricots or cranberries for additional texture and flavor.
- To keep the cake moist, store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- This recipe can be doubled and baked in a larger pan if you want to feed a bigger crowd.
