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I have made a fruitcake for a wedding on Sunday. I made it at Christmas time, and just unwrapped it to Marzipan. I took the top of the level it, and it looks a bit wet inside?? Help – is this ok?? It tastes delicious, but worried it’s maybe been undercooked?? Or is it the alcohol?

Thanks!! (can you tell I am panicking!!) xxx

Hi Kirsty

It may be wet because of the alcohol depending when you last gave it a feed. Is it very wet or just a little sticky.
Sometimes if fruit cake has not cooled sufficiently and is wrapped up it can cause a slimy wettness. If your cake is not slimy it should be fine. Leave the cake unwrapped for a few hours, if it is fresh alcohol it will disperse.
To check the middle of your cake use an apple corer and remove a small plug of the cake to check it for donness. Have a little taste, if it doesn’t have a musty taste it’s fine. The core can be replaced and even out once you decorate the cake.
In the past I have popped fruit cake back in the oven on very low, however, this is a special occasion and I wouldn’t recommend for you to do it. Don’t panic.

Thanks for coming back to me. I haven’t fed it in quite a few weeks now. It tastes delicious, but it is definitely stodgy. I have a picture but not sure how to upload. Feeling very teary! xx

I wouldn’t panic just sounds like its well fed to me and make sure u tell them u have done a lovely moist fruit cake for them! My mum once had a cake sent back because it wasn’t cooked which absolutely wasn’t the case it was just a beautiful moist cake. Some people are used to dry fruit cake though from the shops which is why I said to tell them. I’m sure it will be fabulous x

Hi Kirsty

Is the fruit nice and shiny inside the cake? Some fruit cakes like the boiled and baked can feel stodgy but taste beautiful. You’ve said the cake tastes delicious so it must be ok. Has your cake got white creamy substance ouzing from the fruit? If it has it won’t be suitable to serve as a wedding cake but it doesn’t have to be wasted either. However, to get to the point of another cake, I think your other alternative is to get a commercially made fruit cake. If you have a cake decorating store near you they will most likely stock pre packed rich fruit cake for home decoration. Marks and Spencer and Waitrose also have fruit cake but they would not be as deep as a home baked one. If you haven’t resolved your problem please post again. I’m so sorry to hear you’re teary. xx

No, nothing oozing from the cake, just sticky and very moist. It looks almost like uncooked batter, I’m just not sure of it at all! It tastes amazing, but I’m not sure how it would cut. I am sure it will make a very tasty afternoon snack for my cup of tea!!
I unfortunately don’t have anything near me that I think would sell a fruit cake for me to decorate. I have done a good bit of googling, and came across a last minute fruit cake from Delia. It’s made with a mixture of mincemeat and fruit, i have had it soaking since lunch. I will bake it tonight. I think it will taste good, and fingers crossed it will turn out ok! Thanks so much for the kind words xx

I would be tempted to cut a thick slice to see how it slices then stick it back with a little jam if it’s ok. I”m sure The Delia cake will be good, I made a similar one this past Christmas (Mary Berry) and it was very good indeed.
That was for a last minute fruit cake!! Hope it all turns out well. xx

The stress we put ourselves under! I have read that I should freeze my fresh fruit cake over night to help it mature a bit faster and to cut easier? Have you heard of this? xx

Hi Kirsty

No I haven’t heard of this, freezing a cake makes it more moist so in the case of your cake I feel it may make more wet. If you’re not using it for the wedding it might be worth the experiment or wrap it up again and let it mature a bit longer. I expect it will be perfect by another couple of weeks. I’m baking my Christmas cakes next week. I have so many fruit cakes to do, I’ll get a head start this year! A matured cake slices beautifully, I have a feeling yours will. xx

Hi Kirsty. If you really don’t feel comfortable about the cake you’ve made there’s a great Mich Turner recipe that I’ve made with only a few days notice and doesn’t have to be fed and is the best fruit cake I’ve ever tasted at only a few days. If you want the recipe just in box me on Facebook. Hope your OK and don’t panic everything usually has a solution