One would wonder what the big deal was about Christmas in Kolkata. But only when you experience it will you understand how deeply rooted the Christmas tradition is in Kolkata. And it is not just with the Christians and the Christian Anglo-Indian community, but with every citizen of Calcutta and the suburbs. Also, it’s not a recent trend. Gifting Calcutta Christmas fruit cake to your near and dear ones—it’s a tradition that continues long after the British left.
butter fruit cake
The Calcutta Christmas Fruit Cake: A Slice of Celebration
The Calcutta Christmas fruit cake is a tradition that unites a city. This dense, fruit-filled cake soaked in rum or brandy is a December favourite across Kolkata. From bustling markets like New Market to quiet neighbourhoods, you will find endless century-old local bakeries and grocery stores selling fruit cakes in different shapes and sizes. Even modern bakery companies shift their focus entirely to Christmas during the festive season. A prime example is Mio Amore, Eastern India’s largest confectionery chain, which dedicated an entire month to selling Christmas cakes under the slogan “Shara Maash Christmas”—meaning “the whole month is for Christmas.” This campaign highlights the popularity and cultural significance of Christmas cakes in Kolkata, making them accessible to a broader audience while keeping the festive spirit alive throughout December.
New Market transforms into a hub for Christmas cake lovers during December. Shops overflow with rich plum cakes and fruit cakes, while customers line up, eager to secure their favourites. One of the most iconic stops is Nahoum’s, Kolkata’s 120-year-old Jewish bakery. Famous for its plum cakes, Nahoum’s sees an extraordinary mix of customers. Managed by Muslim workers, it caters to a predominantly Hindu Bengali crowd during Christmas, making it a remarkable example of the city’s inclusive spirit. People queue for hours for a chance to take home the cakes, wrapped in simple butter paper, carrying with them a piece of Kolkata’s festive charm.
Christmas fruit cake
Calcutta Christmas Fruit Cake
Local bakeries at Taltala and Bow Barracks
In the narrow lanes of Taltala, smaller Muslim-run bakeries like Kanchan Bakery and Dalia Bakery play an equally significant role in Kolkata’s Christmas celebrations. These bakeries don’t sell ready-made cakes; instead, they rent their ovens to families bringing their ingredients. This personalized baking experience is a December tradition for many. Families, who soak their fruits weeks in advance and reserve slots for baking. For a modest fee, these bakeries help keep a custom that strengthens community bonds alive.
Christmas in Bow Barracks, the Anglo-Indian hub of Kolkata, would not be complete without visits to traditional bakeries such as J.N. Barua’s, renowned for their wine cakes and chhana’r cake, a cake made from homemade cheese. Many Anglo-Indians and other families take their cake mixes to the nearby Coolotola bakeries, where wood-fired ovens make cakes rich in flavour and nostalgia. The sight of families carrying bowls of batter, waiting for their turn to bake, evokes a sense of togetherness that is quintessentially Kolkata.
fruit cake 2
Saldanha Bakery: A Nearly Century-old Family-run Bakery
Tucked away in the bylanes of Kolkata, Saldanha Bakery has been a name synonymous with Christmas festivities for nearly a century. Established in the 1930s, this is the only Goan-owned bakery today. And it has become a household favourite for its rich and moist Christmas cakes. Known for its consistent quality, Saldanha caters largely to a non-Christian clientele.
Every December, the bakery buzzes with activity as orders for their signature plum cakes, iced Christmas cakes, and wine cakes pour in. With cakes marinated in fruit and spirits for weeks, Saldanha delivers up to 600,000 pounds of cakes during the festive season.
Here are a few different Christmas specials that you may want to try:
- Eggless Rich Fruit Cake
- Mince Pies- a classic Christmas treat
- Anglo-Indian Roast Chicken
- Irish mutton stew
- Afternoon fruit loaf
Have you checked out the Borodin er cake er Instagram reel –
One of the top draws of the Season is Chicken Sandwich and you can catch the video here –
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Calcutta Christmas Fruit Cake
Ingredients
For soaking
- 100 gm dark raisins
- 100 gm golden raisins
- 100 gm black currant
- 100 gm dried fig, chopped
- 100 gms dates, deseeded and chopped
- 100 gm candied orange peel, chopped
- 100 gm candied cherries (Indian cherries), chopped
- 100 gm cashew, chopped
- 100 gm walnuts, chopped
- 100 gm tutti-frutti
- 1 cup dark rum optional
- juice of 2 oranges
For the cake
- 200 gm butter at room temperature (7 oz)
- 150 gm caster sugar (5 oz)
- 3 large eggs at room temperature
- 250 gm all-purpose flour (9 oz)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cake spice
- 2½ cup dry fruit mix
Instructions
- Combine the dry fruits, candied peel, nuts, and cherries in a bowl. Steep in orange juice with a splash of rum until the mixture becomes syrupy. Alternatively, use fruits pre-soaked in rum or brandy.
- Store this fruit mix in a glass bowl or jar and use as needed.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and caster sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition.
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, and cake spice. Gradually fold this dry mixture into the wet batter.
- Add vanilla extract and the soaked fruits along with some of the soaking liquid. If the mixture is dry, add the juice of half an orange or 2-3 tbsp rum for additional moisture.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Grease three medium-sized foil containers and divide the batter evenly between them. For long baking, place each container inside another for insulation.
- Bake at 180°C for 30 minutes, then reduce to 160°C (320°F) and bake for another 15–20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool completely in their containers.
- Optionally, pour teaspoons of soaking liquid over the cakes for 2–3 days to enhance flavour before serving.
- Slice and enjoy!
Pikturenama is a blog about our travel and food escapades along with stories to share through photography. 
