You can use any kind of spirits instead of brandy in a Christmas cake, but the flavour will be different.
Many of my old recipes suggest apple juice as a substitute for brandy when baking cakes and cookies.
fig
Persoanlly, I think brandy is better. But it does vary and depend on the recipe.
5 weeks
That depends on what kind of cake your baking. . .
yes
The cake is baking in the oven.
when putting a cake in the oven and the cake mix is in the oven and if a tiny drop falls the Ytasuiasa (part of a heating in the oven) could start a fire, happy christmas!
Follow the recipe for the amount of baking powder to use whether your using regular flour or cake flour. Neither of them have baking powder, unless it is "self rising" which means leavening is included.
The cake can burn or stick the pan instead of coming out as easily after it is done baking.
I think so. The difference will be negligible.
The difference between fruit cake, and Christmas Cake is that Christmas Cake is, richer and contains SPICES
This great site http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Holidays-and-Events/Christmas/Baking/Cakes/Top.aspx?src=mer681 has a huge list of Christmas cake recipes on the site. In addition, they have an effective rating and review system where you can evaluate whether others also think if the recipe is delicious.
No you Cant use Baking powder instead of bicarbonate of soda because if you put bicarbonate of soda into a cake mixture then you will get a very unpleasant taste !