Christmas is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with a Snowflake Christmas Cake from M&S? This festive treat is sure to impress your guests with its stunning design and delicious taste. Whether you’re hosting a holiday party or simply want to indulge in a sweet treat, this cake is the perfect addition to your holiday menu.
Ingredients:
- 225g unsalted butter, softened
- 225g caster sugar
- 4 medium eggs
- 225g self-raising flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 150g white chocolate chips
- Blue and white fondant icing
- Silver edible glitter
- Icing sugar, for dusting
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan)/350°F/gas mark 4. Grease and line a 20cm round cake tin.
- In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Sift in the flour, baking powder, and salt, and fold gently into the mixture.
- Stir in the vanilla extract and white chocolate chips.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean.
- Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Roll out the blue and white fondant icing and cut out snowflakes using a cookie cutter.
- Arrange the snowflakes on top of the cake and sprinkle with silver edible glitter. Dust with icing sugar before serving.
Nutritional Information:
Each slice of this Snowflake Christmas Cake contains approximately:
- Calories: 420
- Protein: 5g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
- Sodium: 220mg
- Potassium: 90mg
- Fibre: 1g
- Sugar: 40g
- Vitamin A: 640IU
- Calcium: 70mg
- Iron: 1mg
Cooking Time:
This Snowflake Christmas Cake takes approximately 1 hour to prepare and bake.
Equipment:
- 20cm round cake tin
- Baking paper
- Cake stand or plate
- Cookie cutter
Serving Suggestions:
This Snowflake Christmas Cake is best served at room temperature with a dusting of icing sugar. It pairs well with a cup of hot cocoa or a glass of mulled wine.
Variations:
If you want to switch up the flavours, you can use milk or dark chocolate chips instead of white chocolate. You can also add a teaspoon of cinnamon or mixed spice to give it a festive twist.
Substitutions:
If you don’t have self-raising flour, you can make your own by adding 2 teaspoons of baking powder to every 150g of plain flour. You can also use margarine instead of butter, and any type of icing sugar for dusting.
Storage:
This Snowflake Christmas Cake can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can also freeze it for up to 1 month.
Tips:
- Make sure your butter is softened before you start creaming it with the sugar.
- Don’t overmix the batter once you’ve added the flour – this can make the cake tough.
- Let the cake cool completely before decorating it with the fondant icing.
Notes:
If you’re not confident in your icing skills, you can buy pre-made snowflake decorations or use a stencil to create a design on top of the cake.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I make this cake in advance?
Yes, you can make this Snowflake Christmas Cake a day or two in advance. Just store it in an airtight container until you’re ready to serve.
Can I use a different type of icing?
Yes, you can use any type of icing you like. Buttercream, cream cheese frosting, or royal icing would all work well with this cake.
Can I freeze this cake?
Yes, you can freeze this Snowflake Christmas Cake for up to 1 month. Just make sure it’s wrapped tightly in cling film and stored in an airtight container.
The Snowflake Christmas Cake from M&S is a beautiful and delicious addition to your holiday menu. With its soft and fluffy texture, sweet white chocolate chips, and stunning snowflake design, this cake is sure to impress your guests. Whether you’re an experienced baker or a novice in the kitchen, this recipe is easy to follow and produces stunning results. So why not give it a try this holiday season and add some festive cheer to your celebrations?