A Christmas Classic: Traditional Scottish Dundee Cake Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is Dundee cake the same as Christmas cake? ›

A Dundee cake makes a lighter take on the traditional Christmas cake. It's a less rich, crumblier alternative to the hefty traditional Christmas cake.

A Scottish speciality is the traditional Christmas cake, the "Whisky Dundee". As the name implies, the cake originated in Dundee, and is made with Scotch whisky. It is a light and crumbly cake, and light on fruit and candied peel; only currants, raisins, sultanas and cherries.

Dundee cake is from Dundee in Scotland and it is quite different from a regular plum cake for so many reasons. The major difference is that we won't be soaking fruits for this cake. Dry fruits are added as it is in the batter. IT saves a lot of time and effort.

Dundee Cake is one of the most famous and widespread traditional Scottish cakes. Usually, it is being made using almonds, currants, sultanas and sometimes cherries, alongside a wide range of...

Dundee Cake had strong association to the geographical area through the marmalade makers Keillers of Dundee. Keillers used their surplus orange peel from their marmalade production to create the Dundee Cake. The cake was made as a rich buttery sultana cake flavoured with orange peel and almonds.

Cakes can crack and/or dome (way beyond a gentle curve on top) when the outer edge crust sets too quickly and gets done before the middle, forcing the center to heave up as it rises. Possible culprits are: The oven temperature was too high.

Prior to the Reformation of 1560, Christmas in Scotland, then called "Yule" (alternative spellings include Yhoill, Yuil, Ȝule and Ȝoull; see Yogh) or in Gaelic-speaking areas "Nollaig", was celebrated in a similar fashion to the rest of Catholic Europe.

Dundee cake does not keep like a rich fruitcake. It will keep for a week or so wrapped and stored in an airtight tin, but if you want to keep it longer, I would freeze it, preferably on the day that it's baked.

Cutter & Squidge's research found that Scotland's favourite cake is chocolate cake. The study found that Scottish people had the sweetest tooth and enjoyed indulging in chocolate cake.

A classic Dundee cake is a round fruitcake. I prefer it to its distant American cousin, the Christmas fruitcake, in part because it's lighter and butterier. It's typically made with moist raisins and orange peel and topped by pretty concentric circles of whole blanched almonds.

Why is it called a Dundee cake? ›

Fondly known as the Queen of Cakes, Dundee the cake is a Christmas cake that radiates comfort and warmth originating in the coastal Scottish city of Dundee. It was said to have been made by a particular Scottish local bakery by repurposing leftover dried fruits from Christmas cakes.

Today, Dundee cake remains one of the most popular Scottish food and drink specialties – alongside shortbread, whisky and black pudding. It is said that the cake was originally made for Mary Queen of Scots in the 16th century.

Shortbread - A Biscuit for All Occasions

Of all the Scottish sweets, shortbread has perhaps the broadest appeal. Its humble ingredients belie its rich taste and historical significance.

Traditional food & drink

Scotland's national dish is haggis, a savoury meat pudding, and it's traditionally accompanied by mashed potatoes, turnips (known as 'neeps') and a whisky sauce.

A rich fruit cake, encased in marzipan and royal icing, is a classic choice for a Scottish wedding. This hearty cake, often made months in advance, is a testament to the lasting nature of the couple's commitment.

The Christmas Cake originally was called the Twelfth Cake and would have more traditionally been served at parties on the Twelfth Night ending the 12 days of Christmas on the 5th of January. And these cakes started as enriched fruit cakes, something more akin to an Italian Panettone.

Fruitcake was historically referred to as plum cake in England from around 1700.

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.