Yes, you read that right. The Allahabadi Christmas Cake came into being when the Anglo-Indian community flourished during the British reign in India. Food is where the different cultures come to know about each other despite of any differences. Seems like it is food that really makes everything fair in love and war! Through this Anglo-Indian influence, we have got ourselves the yummy Allahabadi Christmas Cake.
What Is Allahabadi Christmas Cake?
For Christmas today, I baked an Allahabadi cake. This anglo- Indian cake deserves a lot more attention than it gets. pic.twitter.com/ww9P6A5wCc
— ForkTales (@helloforktales) December 25, 2021
Yes, Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad has its own twist to the Christmas delight of a simple English Christmas cake. Allahabadi Christmas Cake is not your usual Christmas cake, there is an Indian twist to it, obviously. Can you guess what is the twist about, from the top of your head? It is made using petha or candied ash gourd! There could have been no way, an English Christmas cake would slip from the hands of Indians to alter and introduce a traditional Indian Christmas cake.
Along with petha, dry fruits soaked in rum, murabba, pure desi ghee, or clarified butter also contribute to making it the ultimate package for a desi Christmas delight. The more amount of ghee, the merrier because the key to getting a great Allahabadi Christmas Cake is using a good desi ghee. While preparing this cake, your whole house will smell delicious and aromas will reach every single corner. Who wouldn’t want that?
Also Read: Glühwein, A Harry Potter-Inspired Mulled Wine Is Perfect For Magical Christmas; Recipe
Make This Unique Indian Christmas Cake At Home
Our food is both the evidence & a celebration of our plularity. Case in point, this Allahabadi Christmas Cake kept alive by Muslim Bakers in a city that is one of the holiest for Hindus. Read more here: https://t.co/VjnWvr5Vx4 pic.twitter.com/2xHnQoiMu9
— Historywali (@historywali) December 23, 2019
It is quite simple and the only thing you have to focus on is collecting all the ingredients, the rest is easy peasy lemon squeezy. No, you don’t have to squeeze a lemon for this Christmas cake.
Ingredients:
CHRISTMAS CAKE IN THE MAKING… 💜🇬🇧🎄#Traditional #Cake #Christmas #Baking #English #British #Fruitcake #Homemade pic.twitter.com/INtiteo1nM
— ☥Rosa Mayland☥ AnaLOG SouL In A DIGITal WoRld 💜👁 (@BoppingElf77) November 28, 2023
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 2 cups of petha
- 6 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 2 tsp ground spices like cinnamon, nutmeg or mace
- 1 cup of butter or ghee
- 1/4 cup of sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder
- 1/2 jar marmalade of your choice
- A pinch of shahi jeera for that desi kick
- 1 1/2 cups of candied fruits
- 2 cups of rum of your choice
- 2/3 cup of burnt sugar
- 1/2 cup of warm water
Also Read: Frohe Weihnachten! Celebrate The Magic Of The Season With 24th German Christmas Market in Delhi
Preparation of Allahabadi Christmas Cake:
I’m making the 2023 Christmas Cake. Not a fan tbh & haven’t made one since Home Ec. class but here goes!! it’s soaking up the rum quite well anyway😆 #Christmas2023 #boozycake pic.twitter.com/i3JQGWabA9
— Karen O Mahony (@__kar__) November 27, 2023
- It is better if you make your own candied fruits. You just have to soak raisins, orange peel and currants in rum for more than a month. It induces immense flavour which is helpful.
- Start by carmalising sugar in a large pan over medium heat. Slowly, let it burn till it attains a darker colour.
- Turn off the heat and add warm water to it. Dissolve it completely, if not heat it again and dissolve it.
- Next, beat together ghee/butter and sugar until soft peaks form. Add eggs one at a time and beat them continuously.
- Finally, add all the remaining ingredients and incorporate them well so that there are no lumps in the cake batter.
- Grease a cake tin well and pour the batter into it. Bake this delicious goodness in an oven at 180 degrees for 60 minutes. Voila, your Allahabadi Christmas Cake is ready!
- Once done, let it cool on a cooling rack. Decorate the cake with cashews and walnuts. Serve it warm with a glass of wine.
Try out your baking skills and prepare this delicious Allahabadi Christmas Cake this year and surprise your family with this new creation.
Happy baking!
Cover Image Credits: Canva
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