These Cake Recipes Will Make Christmas Even Sweeter (2024)

FAQs

What is the meaning of Christmas cake in Japan? ›

In Japan, women had traditionally been expected to marry at a young age, and those who were unmarried after the age of 25 were metaphorically referred to as "(unsold) Christmas cakes" (クリスマスケーキ) in reference to items which are still unsold after the 25th.

Even though this cake is sometimes referred to as a Christmas “pudding”, Christmas cake is a type of cake. More specifically, it is a type of fruitcake covered with thick layers of icing with candied or dried fruits, nuts, and spices, and usually contains warming spirits like brandy, wine, rum, or cognac.

A Christmas cake is a heavy cake containing much dried fruit and usually having a covering of icing. It is made to be eaten at Christmas. It can also be called a fruitcake.

The traditional Christmas cake derives from two Christian feast days: Twelfth Night and Easter. In the early days, the Christmas cake was actually a plum porridge which was created with the sole intention of lining the stomach. The classic Christmas plum cake has its origins in mediaeval England.

It was an expression that to call women over the age of 25 "Christmas cake," meaning that they are out of season, as the cake is after December 25th.

Because Japan is primarily a Shinto and Buddhist country, the Japanese don't have many religious ties to Christmas as a national holiday. That being said, many people have adopted traditional holiday celebrations and even created new ones.

It can also be called a fruitcake. A common favorite of many is the traditional Scottish Christmas cake, the "Whisky Dundee."

The relation between Christmas and cake is far too old. But another connection between the two is that cake used to be the party highlight of the Twelfth Night, which took place from December 24 to January 5. Another reason is that cake was used to line the stomach after a day of fasting on Christmas Eve.

Eventually becoming popular as a dessert for special occasions, it was packed with calories in the form of healthful carbs and beneficial fats, and lasted long enough to fortify a soldier through a long, exhausting campaign. A similar form of fruitcake was used by Christian armies during the Crusades.

Did you know that the of eating fruitcake around the holidays stemmed from Great Britain? The traditional Christmas dessert isn't at all similar to the candied peel and citron cakes you might think of when “fruitcake” is mentioned. Called Christmas cake or plum cake in Great Britain, the dessert dates to Roman times!

What is cake without icing called? ›

Naked cakes are layer cakes that are unadorned (or nearly bare) on the sides. That's right: no swoops of frosting or colorful iced patterns.

What alcohol should you use? Strong, flavourful spirits with a high ABV are ideal for feeding fruitcakes. You can use rum, brandy or whisky for spice, or if you like citrus flavours, try an orange liqueur. Cherry brandy and amaretto will also work well if you prefer these.

Christmas cake actually started life as plum porridge, designed to line people's stomachs after a day of religious fasting. Soon, other fruits and a dash of honey joined the plums and became the good old Christmas pudding.

Traditionally, a small porcelain baby, symbolizing Jesus, is hidden in the king cake and is a way for residents of Louisiana to celebrate their Christian faith. The baby symbolizes luck and prosperity to whoever finds it.

The Romans used a mixture of pine nuts, barley, raisins, sweetened wine and pomegranate seeds to make a version of the Christmas cake known as satura. However, it was only in the 16th century that it gained popularity. The origins of Christmas cake lies in a meat pie: Christmas cake has evolved from the plum pudding.

Christmas Day in Japan, while not a national holiday, is celebrated with much enthusiasm and a distinct Japanese flair. The season is marked by illuminations, Christmas markets, and a focus on romantic and commercial aspects of Christmas season rather than religious ones.

During Christmas, the Japanese are famous for serving a special dessert– a delicious sponge cake topped with strawberries, whipped cream and sometimes chocolate. It's called kurisumasu keki. Yum! You and your family can spread joy this holiday season by whipping up this delicious dessert to share with your loved ones.

Every Christmas, an estimated 3.6 million Japanese families get their holiday meal from none other than Kentucky Fried Chicken. Somehow this tradition is one of the most sacred and one that really embodies the Japanese Christmas spirit.

Whether you're visiting Japan for the holidays or just want to wish your friends the best of the season, it's easy to say Merry Christmas in Japanese—the phrase is literally a transliteration or adaptation of the same phrase in English: Merii Kurisumasu.