There’s something magical about Christmas — the twinkling lights and cute decorations fill the homes with warmth. This is a special time when we gather with friends and family to share gifts and create lasting memories. Along with the joy of giving and receiving, Christmas is a festival of many traditions, like hanging socks, decorating Christmas trees, leaving gifts under the tree, etc. While focusing on them, ensure you do not forget about the plum cake.
Plum cakes are a common Christmas cake tradition. These are loved by everyone, from kids to adults. However, do not be fooled by the name “plum cake.” Contrary to its name, a plum cake does not contain any plums in it. Instead, it has a rich flavour and feels like fruit-filled goodness in your mouth. Its roots go back centuries, and it brings with it the essence of the festive season.
Let’s understand how it originated and became a popular Christmas cake tradition!
Why is Plum Cake Eaten During Christmas?
The history of Christmas plum cake goes back hundreds of years. Its roots can be traced to medieval England. The tradition initially started with people making a dish called “plum porridge” or “plum pottage.” Surprisingly, this dish did not contain any plums, despite its name. It was a thick, soupy mixture of boiled meat with grains and dried fruits, like raisins. People enjoyed it during winter, particularly around Christmas, because it was filling and festive.
By the 16th century, the porridge began to evolve. Instead of adding meat to it, people thickened the flour and focused on turning it into a dessert. They gradually started adding spices and dried fruits to the recipe to give it a rich flavour. Over the years, this dessert started gaining more attention across Europe and became a staple Christmas dessert.
By the Victorian era, the dessert recipe witnessed significant changes and had transformed into the refined plum cake that we see today in the market. It was called a “plum” cake because of the dried fruits like raisins and currants, rather than actual plums. Since then, the plum cake has become a symbol of celebration during Christmas. They were usually made in large batches to share with family, friends, and neighbours during the holiday season.
Plum cakes also found their way to the practice of “stir-up Sunday” — the last Sunday before Advent. Families would gather to make their Christmas cakes and take turns to stir the cake batter for good luck.
As time passed, different regions and cultures adapted the recipe. This is how a variety of plum cakes with unique flavours and ingredients was introduced. Even today, the cake remains a holiday favourite and is deeply connected to Christmas celebrations.
Popular Plum Cake Types You Can Find Now
Now that we are aware of the history of plum cakes and why people order plum cakes on Christmas, let’s explore a few popular plum cake types that have evolved over the years.
Chocolate Walnuts Dry Cake
Try this plum cake flavour if you love a rich and chocolaty bite with a crunchy twist. Adding chocolate and walnuts together with cocoa creates a balanced taste. The dried fruits add a subtle and sweet flavour that makes each bite a little more interesting. You can buy this plum cake if you do not want something overly sweet.
Cashew Nuts Plum Cake
If you want a plum cake with a subtle nuttiness, you can try the cashew nut plum cake as well. It has a smooth and creamy texture. The taste of cashews complements the sweetness of the dried fruits, creating a balanced flavour. Its buttery taste gives it a rich flavour, making it a hit during holiday gatherings.
Delicious Almond Plum Cake
An almond plum cake has a delicate and sweet crunch. It also adds a nutty flavour but does not feel as buttery as the cashews. This has a lighter flavour but tastes delicious with the dried fruits.
Plum Cake with Raisins
Don’t like nuts? No problem, you can always go with a plum cake with raisins. The juicy raisins are added to give bursts of sweetness to the cake so that the spices feel more balanced. It’s a traditional choice — choose this flavour if you want a good old-fashioned plum cake with a fruity taste.
Buy Delicious Plum Cakes on Christmas
Over the years, many different plum cake flavours have been introduced but the significance of plum cakes in Christmas is still the same. At YummyCake, you can order many delicious Christmas cakes that are perfect to share with your friends and family. Just place the order and it will be delivered to your doorstep on the same day. Check them out!
