Nigella Lawson urges Brits to ditch popular Xmas food as it 'gathers dust'

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Nigella has recommended ditching a Christmas favourite (Image: Fairfax Media)
Nigella has recommended ditching a Christmas favourite (Image: Fairfax Media)

Nigella Lawson has come out and spoken the truth that everyone has been thinking for quite some time - it's time to ditch a popular Christmas food option.

It may be the centrepiece of many festive British homes, but Nigella has urged people to banish the traditional Christmas cake in favour of something that people want to munch on after they've finished their huge roast. The spiced fruit cake, containing alcohol, is often topped with a layer of marzipan and covered in icing, and it is often found on tables. But Nigella was left wondering whether anyone actually enjoys eating it, or whether it just sits there "gathering dust" with nobody tucking in.

The TV chef is in favour of embracing new traditions, and if this means making a different cake, then she's happy to go along with it. Speaking The Sunday Times, she said: "Much as I love a slice of dense, damp Christmas cake, especially when eaten with a slice of strong, sharp cheese, I am surrounded by those who abominate dried fruit in all its seasonal manifestations.

"If no one in your family likes dried fruit, there's no point having a Christmas cake gathering dust or just being eaten on sufferance. If chocolate cake appeals more, go for it." And for many, chocolate will certainly appeal more.

She said that her family hinted that they needed a new tradition in the interest of "harmony in the home", so she introduced a chocolatey treat instead. She said she was all for "embracing new Christmas rituals of our own" - especially as making a Christmas cake is quite a labour-intensive process, as it needs soaking for four to six weeks according to Candice Bannister from Candy's Cupcakes.

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She told the Express that the best time to start making a Christmas cake, if you're still keen, is November, as it "allows ample time for for the cake to develop its signature texture", and "results in a cake that's both succulent and crumbly." You may have missed the boat this year, but there's always next Christmas.

According to a survey from Ocado, the popularity of Christmas cake has dropped in recent years, with one in five people who either buy or bake a Christmas cake admitting they do not enjoy it when they eat it.

Danielle Kate Wroe

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