The Christmas cake is a traditional Belgian dessert that combines a soft dough with dried fruits. Here’s how to make it.
Ingredients and directions
Prep time 45 min Cook time 1 hr Resting 30 min Total 2 hr 15 min Difficulty Medium Cost Moderate Cooking method four Estimated cost $39.14
$3.26 / serving
Estimated price; varies by store. Converted from euros at the ECB rate of October 7, 2026.
Ingredients
−
12
people
+
Preparation
For the cake batter
General preparation
whisk the whites until stiff peaks form. Set aside. First, thoroughly cream the butter. Once the butter is well creamed, add the cane sugar and mix until fully combined. $0.73 Next, add the eggs, incorporating them one at a time, and mix until the ingredients are well combined. $2.09 Now, pour in the condensed milk in a steady stream, while keeping the mixer running. $0.59 Separate the flour from the starter and add it, continuing to mix. $0.40 Next, add the remaining ingredients, then the whipped egg whites, and mix well with the dough. Pour into the loaf pan, which has been greased and floured. $1.11 Bake in the oven at a moderate temperature (around 180 degrees Celsius), after preheating the oven for about 1 hour, depending on the oven. To check if the cake is done, insert a toothpick into the center. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is ready. Remove the cake from the oven and immediately unmold it, while it is still warm. Then, apply the frosting as described below. Three tablespoons of very hot milk -- $0.59 Approximately two cups (about 300 grams) of powdered sugar $0.57 Juice from 2 Sicilian lemons, of medium size (approximately 3 tablespoons) $0.42 Carefully mix the powdered sugar with the warm milk and lemon juice. $0.42 Remove this filling from the cake while it is still warm. Create a decoration that you love. Let it cool, then serve.
Prices from US supermarkets for 23 of 34 ingredients; Belgian prices for the rest.
Directions
Type of container: round mold (2500 ml). ≈ 3 min
Temperature: moderate (180 °C). ≈ 3 min
Cooking time: approximately 1 hour. ⏱ 1 hr
For the cake batter: ≈ 3 min
Grease the mold with butter. ≈ 3 min
Dust the inside of the cake pan with flour. ≈ 3 min
General preparation: ≈ 3 min
Whip the whites until stiff peaks form. ≈ 4 min
Book now. ≈ 3 min
Make sure the butter is well softened. ≈ 4 min
Once the butter is well whipped, add the cane sugar and mix thoroughly. ≈ 4 min
Bake in the oven at a moderate temperature (around 180 degrees Celsius), after preheating the oven for about 1 hour, depending on your oven. ⏱ 1 hr
To check if the cake is done, insert a toothpick into the center. ≈ 3 min
If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. ≈ 3 min
Take the cake out of the oven and immediately remove it from the pan, while it is still warm. ⏱ ≈ 35 min
Next, apply the filling as described below. ≈ 3 min
Carefully mix the powdered sugar with the warm milk and lemon juice. ≈ 4 min
Remove this topping from the cake while it is still warm. ≈ 3 min
The bill
Christmas cake
1 tablespoon (approximately 30 ml) of softened butter or margarine$0.06 3 tablespoons of wheat flour$0.06 1 tablespoon (approximately 15 ml) of cornstarch (Maizena)$0.04 3 eggs$1.05 100 g of chopped dates$1.10 100 g of seedless grapes$0.77 100 g of dried figs, cut into small pieces$1.79 100 g of chopped almonds$0.92 100 g of chopped walnuts$2.20 100 g of blanched almonds, chopped$0.92 100 g of black plums, cut into pieces$2.10 1 cup (of tea) of sugar$0.28 Whisk the sugar and eggs together until the mixture has doubled in volume. $0.19 Add the cornstarch, flour, and butter, and mix well. $0.26 Line the baking dish with greased parchment paper. $4.91 Type of container: round mold (2500 ml). Temperature: moderate (180 °C). Cooking time: approximately 1 hour $4.91 2 cups (approximately 200 grams) of wheat flour$0.66 2 tablespoons of cane sugar$0.10 4-5 eggs (depending on their size) $2.09 1 standard cup of butter$2.31 1 standard American glass of seedless grapes$1.53 100 g of walnuts, ground$2.20 A pinch of walnut and nutmeg $0.26 butter to grease the mold $1.11 wheat flour for dusting the baking pan $0.40 First, thoroughly cream the butter. Once the butter is well creamed, add the cane sugar and mix until fully combined. $0.73 Next, add the eggs, incorporating them one at a time, and mix until the ingredients are well combined. $2.09 Now, pour in the condensed milk in a steady stream, while keeping the mixer running. $0.59 Separate the flour from the starter and add it, continuing to mix. $0.40 Pour into the loaf pan, which has been greased and floured. $1.11 Three tablespoons of very hot milk -- $0.59 Approximately two cups (about 300 grams) of powdered sugar $0.57 Juice from 2 Sicilian lemons, of medium size (approximately 3 tablespoons) $0.42 Carefully mix the powdered sugar with the warm milk and lemon juice. $0.42
Total $39.14
that's $3.26 per person
Estimated price; varies by store.
▶ Cooking mode
Ingredients
1 tablespoon (approximately 30 ml) of softened butter or margarine3 tablespoons of wheat flour1 tablespoon (approximately 15 ml) of cornstarch (Maizena)3 eggs100 g of chopped dates100 g of seedless grapes100 g of dried figs, cut into small pieces100 g of chopped almonds100 g of chopped walnuts100 g of blanched almonds, chopped100 g of black plums, cut into pieces1 cup (of tea) of sugarWhisk the sugar and eggs together until the mixture has doubled in volume.
Add the cornstarch, flour, and butter, and mix well.
Remove the bowl from the mixer and mix the remaining ingredients, following the order specified and being careful not to overwork the dough.
Line the baking dish with greased parchment paper.
Place them in a preheated oven.
Type of container: round mold (2500 ml). Temperature: moderate (180 °C). Cooking time: approximately 1 hour
2 cups (approximately 200 grams) of wheat flour1 tablespoon (of soup) of royal powder2 tablespoons of cane sugar4-5 eggs (depending on their size)
1 can of condensed milk1 standard cup of butter1 standard American glass of seedless grapes1 standard-sized glass of candied fruit, cut into small pieces100 g of walnuts, groundA pinch of walnut and nutmeg
A pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)
butter to grease the mold
wheat flour for dusting the baking pan
whisk the whites until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
First, thoroughly cream the butter. Once the butter is well creamed, add the cane sugar and mix until fully combined.
Next, add the eggs, incorporating them one at a time, and mix until the ingredients are well combined.
Now, pour in the condensed milk in a steady stream, while keeping the mixer running.
Separate the flour from the starter and add it, continuing to mix.
Next, add the remaining ingredients, then the whipped egg whites, and mix well with the dough.
Pour into the loaf pan, which has been greased and floured.
Bake in the oven at a moderate temperature (around 180 degrees Celsius), after preheating the oven for about 1 hour, depending on the oven.
To check if the cake is done, insert a toothpick into the center. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is ready.
Remove the cake from the oven and immediately unmold it, while it is still warm. Then, apply the frosting as described below.
Three tablespoons of very hot milk --
Approximately two cups (about 300 grams) of powdered sugar
Juice from 2 Sicilian lemons, of medium size (approximately 3 tablespoons)
Carefully mix the powdered sugar with the warm milk and lemon juice.
Remove this filling from the cake while it is still warm.
Create a decoration that you love.
Let it cool, then serve.
Type of container: round mold (2500 ml).
≈ 3 min
Temperature: moderate (180 °C).
≈ 3 min
Cooking time: approximately 1 hour.
⏱ 1 hr
For the cake batter:
≈ 3 min
Grease the mold with butter.
≈ 3 min
Dust the inside of the cake pan with flour.
≈ 3 min
General preparation:
≈ 3 min
Whip the whites until stiff peaks form.
≈ 4 min
Make sure the butter is well softened.
≈ 4 min
Once the butter is well whipped, add the cane sugar and mix thoroughly.
≈ 4 min
Bake in the oven at a moderate temperature (around 180 degrees Celsius), after preheating the oven for about 1 hour, depending on your oven.
⏱ 1 hr
To check if the cake is done, insert a toothpick into the center.
≈ 3 min
If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done.
≈ 3 min
Take the cake out of the oven and immediately remove it from the pan, while it is still warm.
⏱ ≈ 35 min
Next, apply the filling as described below.
≈ 3 min
Carefully mix the powdered sugar with the warm milk and lemon juice.
≈ 4 min
Remove this topping from the cake while it is still warm.
≈ 3 min
Enjoy your meal!
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