• Registered: 12-01-2010
  • Posts: 1

Topic: Alcohol free fruit cakes??

I would love to make my own Christmas cake and christmas pudding this year but I have beeen told that the only way to keep it moist is to use alcohol. Due to medication issues, I am unable to tolerate ANY alcohol so does anyone know of an alternative option please??

My Christmas pudding last year consisted of an individual portion of sponge pudding whilst everyone else tucked in to a fab looking fruit and alcohol aternative :-(
It's a situation I would like to avoid this year if at all possible.

  • Registered: 13-01-2010
  • Posts: 2

Re: Alcohol free fruit cakes??

I know it is a bit late not to make the Xmas pud, but you can soak the fruit in apple juice, or cold tea. If you use the tea make it stronger that usual then pop in the fruit. Use the same amount of tea/apple juice as you would alcohol. I have used both to soak my fruit with, then made Xmas puds and Xmas cakes and they are wonderful. We did not miss the alcohol. What about trying a brand essence? or something like that. You see it in the baking section of the supermarket so it does not actually contain real alcohol otherwise they would have to diplay it in the beers/wines section.
Hopw this helps you.

  • Registered: 04-01-2010
  • Posts: 132

Re: Alcohol free fruit cakes??

BerylM32 wrote:

I would love to make my own Christmas cake and christmas pudding this year but I have beeen told that the only way to keep it moist is to use alcohol. Due to medication issues, I am unable to tolerate ANY alcohol so does anyone know of an alternative option please??

My Christmas pudding last year consisted of an individual portion of sponge pudding whilst everyone else tucked in to a fab looking fruit and alcohol aternative :-(
It's a situation I would like to avoid this year if at all possible.

The boiling point of ethyl alcohol is about 78°C.
Any alcohol added BEFORE cooking will boil off and will not be present in the cooked product.

Don't forget that spirits are at most 40% alcohol, the rest is flavoured water which is what benefits the cooked product. Pure alcohol has no taste.

Enjoy!

Frank