By Woman and Home 2016-10-21T07:00:00Z

Christmas cake recipes to make ahead of Christmas, including a simple traditional fruit cake recipe, Christmas cake recipe with a twist and ideas for how to decorate a Christmas cake

Choosing a traditional Christmas cake recipe rich with seasonal flavours is an important business and it pays to start early to really let the ingredients infuse.

By making your Christmas cake early - up to three months before the big day - it allows you to keep returning to 'feed' your cake with whisky, brandy or another popular liqueur. Allowing your Christmas cake to mature means the day you serve your cake to friends, you'll receive even more compliments.

Feeding your Christmas cake doesn't require as much time as you'd think. Just set a reminder every week to pour over a tablespoon of brandy of whisky over the cake and leave to soak up the flavours. Everyone has different preferences, so you can choose your favourite liqueur and use that if you're not a big fan of either brandy or whisky.

If you're feeling a bit experimental and want to branch away from the classic recipe you use every year, ourchocolate Christmas cake recipe(pictured) is just what you're looking for. The taste of chocolate perfectly compliments the port and fruit in the cake without being too overbearing and you still have the other flavours coming through. This is a great recipe for chocoholics and the earlier you make it, the longer the delicious flavours will have to infuse and come through.

Here you'll find plenty of easy, traditional Christmas cake recipes that are packed with delicious dried fruit. It's the cake decorating that you can labour over, deciding exactly what theme your cake will take! If you prefer, you can leave off the icing too, but we think there's something very impressive about a beautifully iced Christmas cake - guests will be impressed by not only how beautiful it is, but how delicious too!

Click through for more Christmas cake recipes...

Whisky Soaked Christmas Cake

For a traditional Christmas cake recipe that can't be beaten, try our whisky soaked cake recipe. This rich cake is packed with dried fruits, including apricots and figs infused with smoky whisky flavour. Layer over readymade marzipan and decorate as you'd like - it's a blank canvas cake to decorate however you would like!

Traditional Rich Christmas Cake

This traditional rich fruit cake matures really well, so make as soon as you can and feed with a tablespoon or two of brandy every week; pierce the cake all over with a cocktail stick and pour over the brandy. If stored properly, this cake will keep for up to four months. One tip we'd recommend is to keep the baking parchment on the base to main the fruit cake's moisture - and it goes without saying to keep it in a cool, dry place.

Christmas Cake Traybake

If the family aren't keen on traditional Christmas cake, why not make these small slices of our Christmas traybake recipe to offer guests and keep a few slices for you too! Decorate with a layer of royal icing if liked, or just pipe a little icing over the marzipan and decorate with icing sprinkles and whatever decorations you like.

Jamaican Christmas Cake

Traditionally the fruit in this Jamaican cake recipe is steeped in port and rum for at least 24 hours, a week or even longer if you can. You can imagine how rich, delicious and moist this Christmas cake recipe - it needs no icing or decoration, just enjoy its glorious flavour!

Red Velvet Roulade

Red velvet roulade makes the perfect alternative Christmas cake, with a vivid red sponge covered in cream cheese frosting and topped with white chocolate and gold glitter. See the red velvet roulade recipe.

Nougat Cheesecake

This Christmassy nougat cheesecake is so festive and a real dream for anyone who doesn't love traditional Christmas cake. Decorated with sparklers, it's really got the wow factor!

Christmas Log Cake

Everyone loves chocolate, so you can guarantee this stunning Christmas log cake recipe will keep guests happy. It makes a fantastic centrepiece on the Christmas table and looks even more seasonal scattered with icing sugar for that dusted snow effect. Definitely a bake with wow factor!

Sticky Ginger and Treacle Cake, with Rum and Pecan Praline

This sticky ginger and treacle cake, with rum and pecan praline recipe is a show-off Christmas cake centrepiece that's deceptively easy to make and decorate. If you're freezing the cakes, cut the sponges in half to ice when they're still very cold - the sponge will be firmer and easier to cut.

Chocolate and Coffee Roulade

Who doesn't love chocolate roulade? This chocolate and coffee roulade recipe adds coffee for a delicious twist, while the decadent creamy filling will have everyone scraping their plates and asking for seconds!

Nut Meringue Cake with Baileys Cream

Forget the traditional fruit Christmas cake recipe and wow your family and guests with something new this Christmas. Our nut meringue cake with Baileys cream recipe is a different take on the usual seasonal desserts, and stunning to boot!

Cherry Chocolate Mousse Cake

This delightful cherry chocolate mousse cake is full of winter flavours. It's a great alternative to a traditional fruit cake, and yet still makes a wonderful dinner party centrepiece.

Chocolate and Hazelnut Mousse Cake

If your family aren't fans of a traditional Christmas cake, why not really please them with this chocolate and hazelnut mousse cake.

Apple Walnut Cake with Caramel Cream Cheese Filling

A delicious cake with stunning caramel decoration, try our apple walnut cake with caramel cream cheese filing recipe to treat your family and friends to something a little bit different.