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Although I was born and brought up in a North Indian Punjabi household, my excitement for Christmas is unmatched. I think my 14 years of schooling in a Christian institution is what makes me more enthusiastic for Christmas than even Gurupurab or Diwali (though I love these two festivals too). Come December, we would start with the Christmas caroling in the morning assemblies till we would break for the winter vacations. I remember being one of those few enthusiastic kids who would sing on the top of their voice while the rest of my friends went silent. Santa and the gifts were a part of the attraction for this special day.
On the last working day of school, Santa would visit all our classes and distribute chocolates and candies to us and oh boy, we used to be thrilled. Finally, the cake cutting ceremony would be conducted at the end of the day and each one of us would get a slice of that heavenly treat. Christmas cakes hold a special place in my heart since then. Last year, since the pandemic kept us confined to our homes, I made a lavish Christmas spread at home, at the centre of which was the fruity and tasty plum cake. Plum cakes are quintessential to X’mas and are widely prepared in households to celebrate the day.
Do you know who made India’s first ever Christmas cake? It was a man called Mambally Bapu. On his return from Burma as a tea exporter, he had learnt the techniques of baking biscuits and rusks. He put them to use in his homeland in a small district in Kerala called Thalassery by setting up a biscuit bakery called Mambally’s Royal Biscuit Factory. One day in the year 1883, an Englishman named Mr. Murdoc Brown brought a plum cake for Bapu and asked him to taste it. He then asked him to replicate this cake for him at his bakery.
Within a span of 10 days, Bapu served Brown the first ever Christmas cake made in India. The distinction of this cake lied in the fact that it was made with locally-brewed alcohol and it was so well-received by the British official that he placed an order of a dozen cakes. The plum cakes have become the USP of the bakery since then.
Such an interesting story, right? Well, that was just the beginning. There are a plethora of Christmas-special cakes in India. Made in different parts of the country, the cakes are more than just an item on the menu. They are an intrinsic part of the festive celebrations and relished by people across the region.
Here are some India-inspired Christmas cakes that you may have never heard of.
1. Plum Cake By Parsis
Hailing from the Zoroastrian community, Parsis are spread far and wide across the country, with a major hub in Mumbai. Believers of Zoroastrianism, the Parsis are a Persian community that settled in India to escape persecution. Patra Ni Machhi or Dhansak are well-known dishes of the Parsi fare but did you know that they have a special cake for Christmas too? Layered with orange peels, ginger and cherries soaked in rum, the plum cake is a dense and moist affair. The fruity layer merges with the cream to give a slice of heaven on your plate. The festival and the cake are really important in the Parsi culture.
2. Baath Cake By Goans
The fresh seafood roasts and curries are usual suspects when you land in Goa. The picturesque views and relaxing beaches are not only home to pretty views and good food but some sweet treats too. With a huge Christian community, Christmas is a big affair in Goa and so are the cakes. This baath cake is one such specialty of the festive spread. Made with semolina and loads of butter, desiccated coconut adds to the freshness of the cake. Finished off with cherries, the cake is soft, spongy and all things tasty.
3. Christmas Cake From Allahabad
Honestly, this cake comes as a surprise. Hailing from a city of Uttar Pradesh, Allahabadi cake, as it popularly called, is a delicious amalgamation of almonds and fruits soaked in rum. The highlight of the cake, you ask? Well, be ready to get a taste of desi ghee mixed with petha and marmalade from the house of Anglo-Indian community.
4. Vivikam Cake From Puducherry
Yet another desi version of a Christmas cake, Puducherry happily offers you Vivikkam on Christmas. Paired with a Negroni, a slice of this cake has much more booze than the Allahabadi cake which makes it so unique. From fruits to orange peels, everything has a flavour of rum or brandy.
5. Fruit Cake From Calcutta
A Bengali specialty during Christmas, fruit cakes are a common sight at this time in Calcutta. The cake is full of fruits and nuts soaked in rum and the crunchy, sweet and strong flavours make for an irresistible delight. It is also known as Borodin’er cake in the region.
