Definition

Noun: A rich, dense cake containing dried or candied fruit, nuts, and spices, traditionally prepared and eaten during the Christmas season. It is often covered with a layer of marzipan (almond paste) and a hard white icing.

Usage

"Christmas cake" refers specifically to the festive cake itself. It is used as a countable noun.

Examples

• We baked the Christmas cake in November so it would have time to mature.
• Would you like a slice of Christmas cake with your tea?
• Her Christmas cake is famous for its delicious marzipan layer.

Advanced Usage

• The term can sometimes be used metaphorically in British slang to refer to something that is considered past its prime or no longer fresh, drawing a humorous comparison to the long-kept cake. This usage is informal and often considered dated or offensive.
  • He joked that he was feeling like a bit of old Christmas cake after the holidays.

Variants and Related Words

• Fruitcake: A more general term for a cake containing fruit and nuts. Not all fruitcakes are Christmas cakes, but all traditional Christmas cakes are a type of fruitcake.
• Icing: The sweet, often hard sugar coating on top of the cake.
• Marzipan: A sweet paste made from ground almonds and sugar, typically layered between the cake and the icing.
• Panettone: An Italian sweet bread loaf enjoyed at Christmas, which is a different type of festive baked good.

Synonyms

• Fruitcake (in the specific context of Christmas)
• Holiday cake

Related Idioms or Phrases

• "As rich as a Christmas cake": An informal simile describing something that is very rich in flavor, texture, or figuratively, in wealth or detail.
  • The novel's plot was as rich as a Christmas cake.

Noun

1. a rich fruitcake (usually covered with icing and marzipan) and eaten at Christmas