The Christmas cake has been at the heart of Western festive celebrations since the 16th century. Created from a blend of spices selected to represent the gifts of the Three Wise Men, it soon became a favourite tradition of the season, it’s rich flavours and bountiful fruit making it loved by everyone… Ish. Practically every family has a fussy bum who won’t eat Christmas cake. And if you have kids, the likelihood is that you’ll have more than one. They don’t like the fruit, the flavours are too strong, the marzipan tastes funny. While it’s tempting to let them like it or lump it and eat the whole cake yourself, that’s not really getting into the Christmas spirit, and there are plenty of alternatives available.

5 Christmas Cakes That Break with Fruity Tradition

BBC Good Food’s Malted Milk Melting Snowman Cake

Some things just make you smile when you look at them – and this is one of them, for two reasons. Firstly, it’s super-cute and unlike any Christmas cake you’ll have served before. Secondly, you just know that it’s going to taste amazing. It’s cakey, it’s malty, it’s chocolaty and Christmassy, and it’s the [North] Polar opposite to the heavy, fruit-laden cakes that tradition dictates. You might even be able to Swizzels it up a bit, with Giant Fizzers for buttons!

Buche De Noel

Everyone loves a chocolate log, so this probably needs little introduction. Created in France in the 19th century, this chocolate roll of cake, filled with swirling chocolate buttercream, is sweet and simple and a delight to eat. It you’re too busy to make one, they’re available in practically every supermarket and bakery. If you do have the time, then it’s a great recipe to get the kids involved in Christmas cooking; they’ll love decorating it almost as much as they’ll love eating it.

Swizzels Loadsa Sweets Party Cake

Whether you’re planning to make your own or buy a pre-made cake, Swizzels could give you the perfect crowd-pleaser. The Swizzels Loadsa Sweets Party Cake, available from Tesco, combines moist madeira cake with lashings of raspberry jam and mouth-watering sherbet frosting, all topped with oodles of Swizzels sweeties. Simply scrumptious. And if you’re feeling creative, it’s simple enough to make your own unique Christmas sweets version, with your choice of sponge and frosting, and Swizzels favourites piled on top or poured into a hollowed out middle.

Olive Magazine’s White Velvet Snowball Cake

If you’re looking for something a little more sophisticated, then Olive Magazine may have the answer. Utterly indulgent, yet surprisingly light, this coconut delight looks like Christmas hosted by an interior designer! It is sleek and yet welcoming, and a marvel in the mouth. If it looks a little too plain for your family’s tastes, then why not cover the top with Rainbow Drops, or a pile of your favourite Swizzels goodies?

Sticky Gingerbread Wreath Cake

Gingerbread has been part of Christmas since the 16th century, so this cake by Olivia Potts takes a long-standing tradition and runs with it. And the best thing of all? Thanks to the cinnamon and ginger in the mix, it smells like Christmas. It’s quick and relatively easy to make and the decoration can be as simple or as complicated as you like. And, unlike the regular Christmas slab, this cake is surprisingly light to eat – exactly what you need on a day when you’ve already oven-eaten.

Christmas cake is a lovely tradition – if you like it. If you or yours don’t, then why not start a new cakey tradition of your very own?