Countdown to Christmas 2025: 2 delicious soaking-based Christmas cake recipes you can make at home

Explore two easy fruit soaks and egg or eggless cake recipes using Chef Meenal Shejwar's soaking methods for a simple, cosy Christmas treat.

Published on: Dec 2, 2025, 16:30:23 IST

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Christmas in my kitchen starts early. The mood sets in the moment dried fruits, citrus zest and warm spices come out. That simple mix signals the start of all the festive baking. With Christmas 2025 approaching, I finally sat down to study soaking methods and found myself stressed when most people suggested soaking months in advance. That is when I called Chef Meenal Shejwar to ask if I was too late.

A tray of golden Christmas cakes rests beside jars of soaked fruits, bringing the festive baking, warmth, and holiday charm to the home. (Ai Generated)

By Neha Ravi Khandelwal

Neha Ravi Khandelwal
Neha Ravi Khandelwal is a Senior Digital Content Producer, Lifestyle at HT Shop Now, where she specialises in furniture, home, and travel, turning real-world expertise into practical advice that readers can rely on.

Career journey and experience
Neha began freelance writing in 2010 and started her mainstream media journey with the Times of India in 2022, and later joined the Hindustan Times. In the past, she has led interior design projects, interned in visual merchandising at Shoppers Stop and Pantaloons, and managed operations for multiple women-led startups.

To satiate her curiosity, she has completed beginner’s certifications in pottery, scuba diving, baking, creative writing, and more. She takes pride in having read over 2000 books (yes, she did count, and can share a list!) and spent 8 years practising Bharatnatyam and has even ghostwritten a book on Ladakh Tourism.

Subject expertise
With a Master’s in Interior Design and 10 years of building homes, Neha knows space-saving furniture and budget-friendly finds inside out. She instantly visualizes rooms and curates practical, stylish solutions.

In travel, she offers packing guides, luggage tips, and trip advice, all backed by research, expert input from field experts, and hands-on experience.

Education and professional background
Neha holds a Master’s degree in Interior Design and had early stints as a visual merchandising trainee at Shoppers Stop and Pantaloons. These experiences shape every article she writes.

Editorial Philosophy
I write with one single goal: To simplify searching through the abundance of products on the market by finding the right one suited to my readers' needs based on personal experience, user reviews and ratings. When all else fails, Neha speaks to experts who can solve the query.

Christmas cake recipes

Meenal Rai Shejwar is a chef and restaurateur with more than twelve years in food and hospitality. She trained under French chefs, later taught a large number of students through her baking academy and spent two years writing a monthly food column that focused on thoughtful home cooking. Her guidance for Christmas cake mixing was straightforward: “For home-sized fruit mixes, around twenty days is enough. A longer soak adds depth, but you can still begin now and get a balanced result.”

She shared two soaking methods that could work perfectly for home bakers.

Alcohol-based Christmas soaking recipe: Kerala style

Raisins black - 50 grams
Raisins golden - 50 grams
Cashews - 100 grams
Walnuts - 100 grams
Apricots - 250 grams
Prunes - 250 grams
Cherries - 100 grams
Candied peel - 50 grams
Orange plus lemon zest - 20 grams
Cinnamon powder - 10 grams
Star anise powder - 5 grams
Nutmeg powder - 5 grams
All spice powder - 5 grams
Dark rum or brandy - enough to cover the fruits

Mix everything in a clean glass jar and pour rum or brandy till the fruits are fully covered. Close the jar and let it rest for at least three weeks. Give the jar a small shake at times.

Non-alcoholic Christmas soaking recipe: Kid-friendly

Simply use the same ingredients as above! But for soaking, instead of alcohol, use a combination of orange juice and apple juice that is enough to cover the fruits.

Warm the juices with the spices on low heat. Pour this over the fruits and rest it for twenty to thirty minutes. For a deeper flavour, refrigerate for one to two days. This mix can be prepared just three days before baking, which makes it a useful shortcut for the busy end of the year.

Now that you know how to soak dry fruits for your cake, let me share two cake recipes you can try it with. Both versions bring out the cosy fruit flavour beautifully.

Christmas fruit cake with egg

Butter - 200 grams
Brown sugar - 200 grams
Eggs - 4
Maida - 220 grams
Baking powder - 1 teaspoon
Cocoa powder - 1 tablespoon
Vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon
Caramel syrup - 2 tablespoons *optional* *can be replaced with jaggery syrup too*
Soaked fruits - 350 to 400 grams
Soaking liquid - a small splash

Preheat your oven to 160 °C.
Beat the butter and sugar till light.
Add the eggs one by one. Continue to beat.
Fold in the maida, baking powder and cocoa.
Add the vanilla and caramel.
Stir in the soaked fruits with a spoon of the soaking liquid.
Mix and fold well.
Pour into a lined tin and bake for fifty to sixty minutes. Cool fully before slicing.

Eggless Christmas fruit cake

Curd - 1 cup

Brown sugar - 1 cup

Oil - 1/2 cup

Maida - 2 cups

Baking powder - 1 ½ teaspoons

Baking soda - ½ teaspoon

Cocoa powder - 1 tablespoon

Vanilla extract - 1 teaspoon

Caramel syrup - 2 tablespoons *optional* *can be replaced with jaggery syrup too*

Soaked fruits - 2 cups

Soaking liquid - 2 tablespoons

Preheat your oven to 160 °C.
Whisk curd and sugar till smooth.
Add the oil and whisk again.
Sift in the maida, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa. Fold gently.
Add the vanilla, caramel, and soaked fruits, along with a spoonful of the soaking liquid.
Spread into a lined tin and bake for fifty to sixty minutes.
Let it cool completely.

These soaking recipes and cakes make Christmas baking simple and joyful. Start now, fill your kitchen with festive aromas, and enjoy the warmth of homemade fruit cake magic.