Flour for Christmas Cake

Asked by trishs8. Answered on 14th November 2014

Full question

I'm making Nigella's Christmas Cake and we don't have plain flour where I live. Can I use all-purpose or something else in the recipe? Thanks!

Our answer

Nigella's Christmas cakes use plain flour rather than self-raising flour. This is partly as the amount of leavening needed for a rich fruit cake is different to that needed for a sponge cake and so the recipe needs a specific amount added separately.

Plain flour is the UK term, in the US the same flour is all-purpose flour and it is the correct flour to use. Do not use self-rising flour. Cake flour is available in the US and has a lower gluten level than all-purpose flour. It could be used in the cake but could make it slightly crumbly. For a gluten free version of Christmas cake we suggest trying Nigella's Gorgeously Golden Fruit Cake.