Stir Up Saturday - Christmas Cake, Pudding and Mincemeat

Stir Up Saturday: Christmas Cake, Christmas Pudding & Brandy Butter & Rum Butter Mincemeat Masterclass

Embrace the festive season with a hands-on Stir Up Saturday workshop, where you’ll master the art of creating Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, and rum butter mincemeat—essential recipes for a truly indulgent Christmas celebration! This class is designed to give you all the skills, tips, and tricks you need to create these traditional holiday treats from scratch, using only the finest ingredients. Whether you’re looking to bring some old-fashioned charm to your celebrations or want to impress your loved ones with homemade festive treats, this class will leave you with the skills to create these rich, flavourful classics and the knowledge to prepare them well in advance.

What You’ll Learn:

Christmas Cake:

• Preparing the Fruit & Ingredients: Learn the secrets of making a rich, moist Christmas cake by soaking dried fruits in brandy and other festive liquids to enhance their flavours. We’ll guide you through the preparation of the cake’s essential ingredients, including the finest mixed dried fruits, nuts, and spices.
• Cake Mixing & Baking: Discover the proper technique for mixing the cake batter and baking it to achieve the perfect dense yet moist texture. You’ll learn how to prepare your Christmas cake for a long, slow bake that allows all the flavours to develop and meld together.
• Decorating the Cake: Once baked, we’ll show you how to decorate your cake with marzipan and royal icing, creating a professional finish for your festive centerpiece. Learn tips for achieving a smooth, flawless icing finish and how to add festive touches, such as edible glitter or holly decorations.

Christmas Pudding:

• Traditional Pudding Ingredients: Dive into the history and tradition behind Christmas pudding. You’ll learn about the essential ingredients like suet, breadcrumbs, treacle, mixed dried fruits, and the festive spices that make this dessert so beloved.
• Mixing & Steaming: Discover the technique for combining the ingredients in just the right proportions. We’ll show you how to steam your pudding slowly to ensure it becomes wonderfully rich and moist.
• Aging & Storing: Learn how to store your Christmas pudding to allow it to mature, developing deep, complex flavours. We'll also share tips on reheating your pudding on Christmas Day, ensuring it’s perfectly ready for serving.
• Flambéing & Serving: The fun part! We’ll guide you through the dramatic process of flambéing your Christmas pudding with brandy before serving, making for a spectacular presentation at your holiday table. We’ll also show you how to serve it with the perfect brandy butter or brandy sauce.

Rum Butter Mincemeat:

• Making Mincemeat: Learn the art of making your own mincemeat from scratch using fresh apples, currants, raisins, suet, and a mix of festive spices. We’ll show you how to add a splash of rum and other spirits for extra depth and warmth, creating a rich, flavourful filling that will be the highlight of your pies.
• Traditional & Modern Twists: While we’ll teach you the traditional methods, we’ll also give you the freedom to experiment by adding your own twists to the mincemeat—whether it’s extra rum, orange zest, or your favourite dried fruit.
• Using Mincemeat: We’ll demonstrate how to fill mince pies with your freshly made rum butter mincemeat and teach you tips for baking the perfect, golden, crumbly pies. You’ll leave with a jar of your homemade mincemeat, ready to use for holiday pies and tarts.

Class Highlights:

• Hands-On Learning: This interactive, hands-on class will guide you through every step of making traditional Christmas cake, pudding, and mincemeat. You’ll get to experience the entire process from start to finish and take home your own creations.
• Expert Guidance: Our experienced chef will provide expert tips on each of these classic recipes, teaching you how to balance flavours, create perfect textures, and ensure your treats will be a hit at your Christmas table.
• Festive Atmosphere: Get into the holiday spirit with the sights, smells, and sounds of Christmas as you prepare and bake your seasonal treats in a warm, festive environment. Expect plenty of seasonal cheer, fun conversation, and plenty of tastings along the way.
• Traditional Recipes: Whether you're new to these holiday classics or looking to perfect your skills, this class will leave you with authentic recipes that you can pass down for generations to come.
• Recipe Cards & Tips: You’ll receive detailed recipe cards for Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, and rum butter mincemeat, so you can recreate these festive delights in your own kitchen. Plus, you’ll get tips on how to store, age, and serve your creations, as well as how to make them ahead of time to reduce your holiday stress.
• Lunch will be prepared for you plus drinks.

Perfect For:

• Home Bakers & Food Lovers: If you’re passionate about traditional baking and want to learn the art of making holiday classics from scratch, this class is for you. It’s perfect for beginner bakers looking to expand their skills or experienced home cooks who want to refine their holiday baking techniques.
• Christmas Hosts: If you’re hosting Christmas this year, this class will equip you with everything you need to impress your guests with homemade Christmas cake, pudding, and mincemeat. It's the perfect way to add a personal touch to your festive menu.
• Family Fun: Stir Up Saturday is also a fun experience for family members to get involved in the holiday preparations. Bring your loved ones along and enjoy the festive fun together.
• Gift Experience Seekers: This class makes a perfect holiday gift for someone who loves cooking, baking, or preparing for Christmas.

Class Duration:

Approx. 5 hours

Location