Gluten And Sugar Free Christmas Cake Food

GLUTEN-FREE CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• The day before you want to bake the cake, combine the raisins, sultanas, currants, mixed candied peel, glacé cherries, orange juice and 100ml brandy in a large bowl. Cover and leave to soak overnight.
• Butter a deep 20cm round cake tin, and line the base and side with baking parchment. Beat the margarine, sugar, treacle and orange zest together in a large bowl using an electric whisk until smooth and fluffy. Gradually whisk in the milk and vinegar (the mixture will split at this point, but will come back together when the dry ingredients are added, so don't worry). Mix the flour, xanthan gum, bicarbonate of soda, mixed spice and cinnamon together in a second large bowl. Gradually mix the wet ingredients into the dry until smooth. Heat the oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2.
• Fold the soaked fruit into the cake mixture until combined, then spoon into the tin and level the top with the back of a spoon. Bake for 45 mins, then reduce the heat to 140C/120C fan/gas 1 and bake for a further 2-3 hrs until the cake is deeply golden and firm to the touch (cover the top of the cake with foil if it starts to darken too much). The cake is ready when a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.
• Poke holes all over the top of the warm cake using a skewer, then spoon over 4 tbsp brandy and leave to cool in the tin for 1 hr. Transfer to a wire rack, remove the parchment and leave to cool completely. When the cake is cold, wrap in a layer of baking parchment, then a layer of foil before storing. Will keep in a dry, cool cupboard for up to three months, or in the freezer for up to six months.

GLUTEN AND SUGAR FREE CHRISTMAS CAKE

Steps:

• Chop dates into small pieces and place in a pan with the water.
• Bring to the boil and simmer over a low heat for approimately 10 minutes until the dates are soft.
• Cool the date mixture.
• Process or beat together the date mixture, oil, ground almonds, spice, eggs and flours until they are well blended.
• Stir in the dried fruit and mix well by hand.
• Place into a lined and greased 6"- 8" cake tin and bake at Gas Mark 3, 330 oF, 170 oC for approximately 30 minutes, then lower the temperature to Gas Mark 1, 290 oF, 145 oC for a further 45 minutes.
• Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes in the tin, then turn out onto a wire tray.
• Remove the lining paper and allow to cool.
• Store in the fridge and eat within 2 weeks, or freeze (in slices).

MOIST CHRISTMAS CAKE (NO ADDED SUGAR OR FAT)

Steps:

• Line base and sides of 20cm squared cake tin with paper.
• Place mixed fruit, apricots, undrained pineapple, orange juice and spice in a saucepan.
• Bring slowly to boil, simmer uncovered 2-3 minutes, remove from heat.
• Cover and allow to cool.
• Stir egg yolks (optional) and soda into fruit mixture.
• Whip egg whites stiffly in large bowl.
• Fold in fruit mixture, then fold in flour, making a firm mixture.
• Spread into cake tin, bake in moderate oven (160c) for 1 1/2 hours.
• Cover the hot cake with foil and allow to cool in the pan.
• On special occasions, you may decorate the top with glace cherries and a few almonds.
• Take care- all nuts have a high fat content.
• The pineapple can be replaced by 3/4 cup water and 1 cup mashed pumpkin.
• or 3/4 cup water and 1 cup pureed pie apricots Add the pumpkin or apricots after the fruit mixture has cooled.
• The water is added to the dried fruit so it can be boiled.