Our top 10 Christmas cake recipes

Dark & stormy fruit cake on a cake stand

Traditional Christmas cakes

Do Stir-up Sunday right this year and bake a boozy masterpiece worthy of the grandest Christmas table. Get your mixing bowls and most impressive aprons at the ready and cook up some Christmas magic.

1. Classic make & mature Christmas cake

Classic Christmas cake with a spoon resting on top

Our make & mature Christmas cake is a confirmed classic. You can make this cake up to three months in advance and feed it fortnightly with either rum, brandy or whisky to build up the flavour and keep it moist. If you'd rather not use alcohol, try tea, fruit juice or a flavoured syrup. The mix of warming aromatic spices go well with the fruit and creates a moreish slice.

2. Classic everyday fruitcake

Classic everyday fruitcake with a ribbon around it

For a family-friendly fruitcake, the batter is soaked in fruit juice rather than alcohol. It works really well as an easy Christmas cake, giving you and the kids more time to have fun with decorating it. Get some inspiration for Christmas cake decoration ideas.

3. Buttered rum Christmas cake

Buttered rum Christmas cake on a white cake stand

Our buttered rum Christmas cake is the ultimate crowd-pleaser, and it only gets better as it keeps. The spiced dark rum goes perfectly with the intense dried fruit, orange zest and apple juice. This ultra-indulgent, full-flavoured cake has the perfect balance of sweetness, fresh citrus flavours and punchy liquor. Try decorating it like our midwinter candle cake or our sparkly bauble cake for a colourful showstopper.

4. Dark & stormy fruit cake

This Christmas cake can be made a couple of months in advance and fed with spiced rum to give it extra depth of flavour and texture. It's well worth the result.

5. Easy Christmas cake

Birds eye shot of a classic Christmas cake

Make your seasonal kitchen a stress-free zone this year with our easy 'as-you-like-it' Christmas cake. Use your choice of dried fruit, nuts, citrus zest and booze (or even tea) and get this simple Christmas cake made up to six months in advance.

6. Extra-fruity Christmas cake

One extra-fruity Christmas cake on a white plate

Take your love of Christmas cake further with this beautifully rich, brandy-soaked, extra-fruity recipe. It doesn't get more Christmassy than this! Make this cake a month ahead of the big day.

7. Christmas light cake

Use one of our Christmas cake recipes or buy shop-bought (we won't judge). Either way, your guests are sure to be impressed with your fairy light Christmas cake topping, made with fondant icing and sugared almonds.

8. Salted caramel Christmas cake

Christmas cake topped with caramel and nuts

This beautiful, modern version is laced with chunks of toffee and dates, with a crunchy, nutty topping to boot. It’s perfect for those looking for an extra-sweet finish to their Christmas meal. It will keep in an airtight container for up to two weeks, too.

9. Vegan Christmas cake

A whole vegan Christmas cake wrapped in baking parchment

No one needs to miss out on festive goodies with our easy vegan Christmas cake. You can create this lip-smacking fruitcake with clever substitutes, like chia seeds and coconut oil in place of eggs and butter. Feed it as you normally would, with a spoonful of rum every week until the big day. Your guests won't believe it's all plant-based goodness.

10. Gluten-free Christmas cake

Gluten-free Christmas cake served on a cake stand

Now everyone at the table can enjoy a slice of Christmas cake, thanks to our dairy-, gluten-, nut- and egg-free recipe. With all the same trademark flavours of the classic, no one will ever guess it's free-from! This cake will keep in a dry, cool cupboard for up to three months, or in the freezer for up to six months.