Christmas: Cakes, Icings and Toppings

Although there are some pretty good Christmas cakes to buy, a home-made one is in quite a different league.

Not only is it better, but it's surprisingly cheaper. We have all Delia's Christmas Cakes, including her Classic, and Last-minute as well as Buche de Noel, Stollen and more. We have also included recipes for marzipan, icings and toppings.

Almond Icing (Marzipan)

Homemade almond icing is superior to the ready-made, so I’ve included it here if you have time to make it. ...

Homemade almond icing is superior to the ready-made, so I’ve included it here if you have time to make it. A one-egg mix makes 375g, so you will probably have too m...

Buche de Noel (Chocolate Chestnut Log)

This famous French confection turns up in a number of guises, some of which I have a great aversion to, hav...

This famous French confection turns up in a number of guises, some of which I have a great aversion to, having never liked the sickly sweet butter cream that's often u...

Chestnut Cupcakes

Since the craze for cupcakes has crept up on us, it seems appropriate to include a Christmas version. Al...

Since the craze for cupcakes has crept up on us, it seems appropriate to include a Christmas version. Along with the Italian Chocolate Nut Christmas Cake (see below...

35 minutes - 40 minutes

to cook

A picture of Delia's Christmas Sherry Mincemeat Cake recipe

Christmas Mincemeat Cake

If you've been meaning to make a Christmas cake but haven't got round to it, fear not – this one can be mad...

If you've been meaning to make a Christmas cake but haven't got round to it, fear not – this one can be made at the last minute. In fact you could bake it on Christ...

2 hours - 2 hours 30 minutes

to cook

Vegetarian

Christmas Stollen

At Christmas time in Austria, Germany and parts of France they traditionally serve something called st...

At Christmas time in Austria, Germany and parts of France they traditionally serve something called stollen: it is a rich fruity yeast bread filled with almond ic...

40 minutes

to cook

Classic Christmas Cake

This is my original Christmas cake from the first book – a combination of my grandmother’s, my mother’s and...

This is my original Christmas cake from the first book – a combination of my grandmother’s, my mother’s and a few tweaks from me. (There are more fruit cake recipes...

4 hours - 4 hours 45 minutes

to cook

Creole Christmas Cake

If there were a Delia’s Christmas cake poll this would now be a clear leader. Originally from the Caribb...

If there were a Delia’s Christmas cake poll this would now be a clear leader. Originally from the Caribbean, it does involve quite a lot of booze and a week’s pre-s...

4 hours

to cook

Fondant Icing

This is for those who like a softer icing than royal icing, but prefer to have a homemade version.

Glace Fruit Topping

At Christmas there are so many unusual glace fruits available in the shops that seem to disappear at other ...

At Christmas there are so many unusual glace fruits available in the shops that seem to disappear at other times of the year. These can make very attractive alterna...

Glazed Nut Topping

This is suitable for all cakes and is good for people who don't like the extra sweetness of icing.

Golden Apricot and Pecan Topping

This stunning gilded fruit and nut topping can be used to decorate Creole, Classic or Light Christmas Cake

A picture of Delia's Holly Leaf Cake Decoration recipe

Holly Leaf Decoration

This is a simple but tasteful design for those who want to go a step further than the quick snow scene. ...

This is a simple but tasteful design for those who want to go a step further than the quick snow scene. To get royal icing really flat and smooth has always demande...

Irish Whiskey Christmas Cakes

If you've never made a Christmas cake before, this one is dead easy, and you won't be disappointed. Thes...

If you've never made a Christmas cake before, this one is dead easy, and you won't be disappointed. These have a much thinner layer of marzipan and icing, and the f...

3 hours - 3 hours 30 minutes

to cook

Italian Chocolate Nut Christmas Cake

Liberally dusted with icing sugar, this chocolate cake from Italian cookery writer Anna del Conte, is delic...

Liberally dusted with icing sugar, this chocolate cake from Italian cookery writer Anna del Conte, is delicious at teatime, or even after supper with a glass of sweet ...

1 hour 10 minutes

to cook

Last-minute Christmas Mincemeat Cake

Self-explanatory, I think. You didn’t have time, you don’t want the factory version, so this one made si...

Self-explanatory, I think. You didn’t have time, you don’t want the factory version, so this one made simply with a jar of mincemeat will make a really speedy but e...

2 hours

to cook

Light Christmas Cake

Unlike the dark, traditional fruit cakes this one is light in colour but filled with jewelled crystallised ...

Unlike the dark, traditional fruit cakes this one is light in colour but filled with jewelled crystallised fruits. It would be a perfect choice for someone wh...

3 hours

to cook

Mini Christmas Cakes

This is quite amazing – all the luscious flavour of Christmas cake but no work. No dodgy oven, no curdll...

This is quite amazing – all the luscious flavour of Christmas cake but no work. No dodgy oven, no curdllng eggs and lining cake tins – just a few moments of your ti...

Prune and Armagnac Chocolate Log

If you want different recipes for the celebrations, this is one of them – a traditional Christmas log with ...

If you want different recipes for the celebrations, this is one of them – a traditional Christmas log with two very special fillings: a chocolate mousse and prunes wit...

A picture of Delia's Ribboned Parcel Cake Decoration recipe

Ribboned Parcel Decoration

This is a simple but tasteful design for those who want to go a step further than the quick snow scene. ...

This is a simple but tasteful design for those who want to go a step further than the quick snow scene. To get royal icing really flat and smooth has always demande...

Royal Icing

I confess this has often been for me a last-minute affair late on Christmas Eve. Very often there's the ...

I confess this has often been for me a last-minute affair late on Christmas Eve. Very often there's the odd robin or Father Christmas handed down through generation...

Silver Angel Icing

Delia's Silver Angel Icing will add a stunning finish to any of her Christmas cake recipes

Simple Decoration for a Christmas Cake

There really couldn't be an easier or quicker way to top a cake. Just finish it off by tying it with a p...

There really couldn't be an easier or quicker way to top a cake. Just finish it off by tying it with a pretty Christmas ribbon

Spiced Apple and Cider Cake

This is quite definitely a dessert cake. The combination of spices, and the balance of tart apples and c...

This is quite definitely a dessert cake. The combination of spices, and the balance of tart apples and cake are perfect. It needs a large dollop of crème fraiche or...

1 hour 20 minutes - 1 hour 40 minutes

to cook

Sugared Flowers

You won't believe how very easy this is, but there is a word of warning. Not all flowers are edib...

You won't believe how very easy this is, but there is a word of warning. Not all flowers are edible, so you need to do some research if you want to do someth...

Christmas: Cakes, Icings and Toppings

Almond Icing (Marzipan)

Buche de Noel (Chocolate Chestnut Log)

Chestnut Cupcakes

Christmas Mincemeat Cake

Christmas Stollen

Classic Christmas Cake

Creole Christmas Cake

Fondant Icing

Glace Fruit Topping

Glazed Nut Topping

Golden Apricot and Pecan Topping

Holly Leaf Decoration

Irish Whiskey Christmas Cakes

Italian Chocolate Nut Christmas Cake

Last-minute Christmas Mincemeat Cake

Light Christmas Cake

Mini Christmas Cakes

Prune and Armagnac Chocolate Log

Ribboned Parcel Decoration

Royal Icing

Silver Angel Icing

Simple Decoration for a Christmas Cake

Spiced Apple and Cider Cake

Sugared Flowers

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