Christmas Cake Liqueur

Our answer

Christmas cakes, such as Nigella's Traditional Christmas Cake (from Nigella Christmas) use liqueurs such as brandy, rum or whiskey in the cake batter and then once cooked the cake is doused in the liqueur (known as "feeding") before storing.

These liqueurs are quite high in alcohol, typically 35% ABV or more, and it would be possible to substitute a similar orange flavoured liqueur instead. We would tend to favour a darker liqueur, such as Grand Marnier, but it is perfectly possible to use a white liqueur, such as Cointreau or triple sec. It is also worth considering a coffee flavoured liqueur, such as Tia Maria or Kahlua, as an alternative. Nigella uses coffee liqueur in her very popular Chocolate Fruit Cake (from Feast and on the Nigella website).