Little frosty Christmas cakes

Little frosty Christmas cakes

These delightful mini fruitcakes make perfect gifts for friends and neighbours

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes 8 small cakes

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 15 mins

Cook time

Cook 30 mins

Plus decoration time
Freezable

Freeze only when undecorated

Method

  1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Butter eight 150ml ramekins and line the bottoms with circles of non-stick baking paper. Divide the cake mix between the ramekins, transfer to a baking sheet and slide into the oven. Bake for 30 mins until springy and dark golden brown. Leave until cool enough to handle, then run a round-edged knife around the edge of the each cake. Turn out and cool completely on a rack.
  2. If the cakes have risen into peaks, make flat by slicing the tops off with a serrated knife. Melt the jam with 1 tbsp water and brush over the top of the cakes. Lightly knead the marzipan and shape eight golf ball-sized balls. (You will have some left over - wrap up well for another time.) Using a rolling pin, gently roll the balls into flat circles, approx 1cm thick and the same diameter as the cakes. Sit the marzipan on the jammy side of the cakes. Do the same with the icing, brushing the marzipan with a little cooled, boiled water to help it stick.
  3. Beat the egg white until just frothy and broken up. Spread the caster sugar over a plate. Dip the cranberries and rosemary in the egg white, shake off the excess and roll in the caster sugar to create a frosty effect. Leave to dry for 15 mins. Tip away all but 2 tsp of the egg white and mix with the icing sugar to create a thick paste. Use to fix two cranberries and a sprig of rosemary to the top of each cake. Decorate with gold ribbon. The cakes will keep in an airtight container for up to a week.

Per iced cake

1064 kcalories, protein 10g, carbohydrate 191g, fat 34 g, saturated fat 15g, fibre 3g, sugar 129g, salt 1.07 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, December 2005.

Try 3 issues of Good Food magazine for £3 - subscribe now!

Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • Binder photo clare

    18 November 2007

    clare commented on this recipe

    I made these cakes to put in to christmas hampers. They were easy to make and everyone said they tasted delicious.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo clare

    18 November 2007

    clare rated this recipe

    5 stars

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo AliPom

    25 November 2007

    AliPom rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I used this recipe with a year 9 class at school. We were able to make the cakes and ice them in a 2 hour lesson. I donated my demonstration cakes to the staff room and they were devoured in no time. I spent the rest of the day handing out the recipe! A lovely light alternative to a rich, heavy Christmas cake. Excellent!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo clare

    14 December 2007

    clare commented on this recipe

    I made the cakes using gluten free flour and xanthan gum. They tasted just as good as the ones made with regular flour.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Rupa

    20 December 2007

    Rupa rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    These are lovely tastey little bites of greatness - yummy :-)

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Chilton Diva

    27 December 2007

    Chilton Diva commented on this recipe

    From someone who is not keen on the often heavy traditional Christmas cake, this was a welcome alternative. Fantastic light mixture with a lovely flavour. I gave these as presents to fellow foodie friends, wrapped in cellophane & ribbons, and think I may have started a well-received tradition!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo sarajane

    30 November 2008

    sarajane commented on this recipe

    these sound good ...can't wait to try them!! Keep you posted..

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Sada Ray

    07 December 2008

    Sada Ray commented on this recipe

    I made these to sell at my daughter's christmas fayre. The recipe made 10 cakes. I may have used slightly smaller ramekins. The cake was very tasty, beautifully moist. They were easy to make, great fun and looked just like the picture. They all sold really quickly - except I had to buy the last one back as my two year old daughter was so upset about not having one!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo sandie

    16 December 2008

    sandie commented on this recipe

    I have just made these little cakes for presents for the people I work with they turned out really nice. Hope they taste just as good when eaten.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo NooGiggle

    17 December 2008

    NooGiggle commented on this recipe

    I absolutely love these cakes. They were easy to make, really moist and look very professional. My family are all getting these as gifts for Christmas... if I don't eat them myself first!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Daisy

    03 September 2009

    Daisy commented on this recipe

    I saw this recipe and decided I would make this for all my family and friends so then i showed my mum to ask if i was aloud to this and she said it was the best idea she had ver seen and putting them in individual little boxes! Definatley will be a great success!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Laverne

    10 November 2010

    Laverne commented on this recipe

    Try baking them in small baked bean tins.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Ange

    13 December 2010

    Ange rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I made these for teachers and TA's as gifts. I put them in clear bags from Lakeland and tied with ribbon. :0)

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo snowey

    01 November 2011

    snowey rated and commented on this recipe

    3 stars

    you dont say how you make the actual cake bit thought and i really want to make these ?????

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo snowey

    01 November 2011

    snowey commented on this recipe

    you dont say how you make the actual cake bit thought and i really want to make these ?????

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo DonnaP

    28 November 2011

    DonnaP commented on this recipe

    Snowey=http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2564/easy-apple-fruit-cake There you go!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Fionas

    09 December 2011

    Fionas commented on this recipe

    Has anyone tried making these in muffin tins rather than ramekins? I don't have any and really don't want to have to buy some. I thought smaller amounts in a muffin tin might work.

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo Helen McCann

    14 December 2011

    Helen McCann rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    A wonderful recipe. Everyone who has tasted one of these has said how lovely and light they are. Perfect for people who don't like big heavy Christmas cakes but like just a taste. Fabulous

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo masterfox

    09 January 2012

    masterfox rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made these as presents for people and they went down a storm. Everyone loved them! Found it a bit of pain getting them out of the ramekins, but I probably didn't grease them thoroughly enough. Great recipe for a lighter christmas cake, and especially great as presents for anyone who doesn't want to eat a whole christmas cake by themselves!

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

  • Binder photo jeanetteski

    10 October 2012

    jeanetteski commented on this recipe

    I have not made these yet, but has anyone used muffin tins instead of ramekins?

    Flag as inappropriate

    Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Leave a comment or suggestion

You must sign in or register to leave a comment.

Sign in / Register

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes 8 small cakes

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 15 mins

Cook time

Cook 30 mins

Plus decoration time
Freezable

Freeze only when undecorated

Ingredients

  • butter , for greasing
  • 1 quantity Easy apple fruit cake, uncooked (see link below)
  • 2 tbsp apricot jam
  • 500g pack natural marzipan
  • 500g pack ready-to-roll white icing
  • 16 fresh cranberries
  • bunch rosemary , broken into small fronds
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 1 egg white
  • 50g icing sugar
  • approx 1m gold ribbon
Print this recipe
Add to your binder

Per iced cake

1064 kcalories, protein 10g, carbohydrate 191g, fat 34 g, saturated fat 15g, fibre 3g, sugar 129g, salt 1.07 g

Advertisement

Your binder

Here are three other great reasons why to sign up:

  • You get an online binder, where you can store all your favourite recipes and create menus.
  • You can add your own recipes to this site for others to try; plus, rate and make comments on recipes, and share your views on our blog.

Follow Good Food

Advertisement

All about Good Food

Magazine

Good Food Magazine

Subscribe to Good Food magazine - enjoy 100+ triple-tested recipes delivered to your door, every month.

Order today, and receive your first 3 issues for just £3

On TV

Foodie TV

See your favourite chefs on Sky Channel 247, Virgin TV 260 and find their recipes at goodfoodchannel.co.uk.

Good Food Apps

Good Food Apps

For Good Food on the go, download our apps to your phone or portable device.
Find out more here

Buy ingredients

With just one click, the full list of recipe ingredients will be put into a basket at your choice of provider. Choose from:

mySupermarket Compare prices and choose a retailer you wish to buy them from.

Ocado Let Ocado deliver all you need for this recipe, right to your door

Tesco Buy all the ingredients from our recipes through your Tesco online shop.

new

Asda Shop with Asda? You can now buy ingredients for our recipes via your Asda online shop.

In association with the above providers. Terms and conditions apply.

Close