Slightly Stormy Christmas Cake

Every year, I make a traditional English Christmas cake. It is a very rich cake, full of dried fruit, and after it has rested for a while, I cover it with a layer of marzipan and then with smooth white icing. Normally, the icing looks like soft, fresh snow on top of a hill.

This year, however, things were a little different. The marzipan didn’t behave as it usually does, and the icing didn’t stay smooth. Instead of looking like peaceful winter snow, it looked more like a snowstorm in the desert. But Christmas baking doesn’t have to be perfect — and that’s what makes it all the more fun.

Luckily, my mince pies turned out really well. They are small, sweet pastries filled with a mixture of dried fruits and spices, just the right size for a snack or a little treat with tea. If you are in a lesson, you might even be able to enjoy one — if there are any left!

I am also looking forward to other traditional English Christmas treats, and of course there will be Christmas crackers, because it isn’t a real English Christmas without a paper hat and a silly joke.

I really enjoy the Christmas season in Germany too, with all the lovely Christmas markets, the delicious food, and the pretty lights everywhere.

Whether you’ll be celebrating Christmas or simply enjoying a well-earned break, I hope you have a wonderful time — and a happy, healthy New Year.