Stir-up Sunday 2026: your Christmas cake and pudding schedule
Stir-up Sunday 2026 is Sunday 22 November, the last Sunday before Advent. Pick the day you are baking and this page gives you every date that follows: the feeding days, the last feed, marzipan, icing and steaming the pudding on Christmas Day. Free, printable, nothing saved.
Christmas 2026 at a glance
Stir-up Sunday: Sun 22 Nov · Advent Sunday: Sun 29 Nov · Christmas Day: Fri 25 Dec. That is - to Stir-up Sunday and 33 days from Stir-up Sunday to Christmas Day.
Plan your bake
Tap or click a date to change it. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere, so print it before you close the page.
Christmas cake and pudding schedule 2026
| Date | Job |
|---|
How the dates are worked out
- Feeding. UK bakers and food sites say to feed once a week or once a fortnight, 1 to 2 tablespoons of brandy, rum, sherry or (for a cake) fruit juice at a time. The first feed here is one rhythm after the bake or make day.
- Stopping. The cake's last feed is at least 6 days before the marzipan day, so the top can dry. The pudding's last feed is Friday 18 December, a week before Christmas, in line with the common advice to stop about a week before.
- Decorating. Marzipan two days before icing. The spare days and the icing date are our suggestion, so change them to suit your week.
- Christmas Day. Steam the pudding for at least 2 hours until piping hot, 70C in the centre, and reheat it only once.
These are general UK timings, not a recipe. Follow your own recipe or the pack where it says something different.
Free tools for the rest of Christmas
- Christmas 2026 key dates UK: Advent, Black Friday, Jumper Day, bank holidays and a live countdown.
- Christmas dinner timing calculator: turkey weight to a back-to-front timetable.
- Christmas card posting dates and card list planner
- Christmas quiz answer sheets
Common questions
When is Stir-up Sunday 2026?
Stir-up Sunday 2026 is Sunday 22 November, the last Sunday before Advent. Advent Sunday is 29 November and Christmas Day is Friday 25 December, so baking on Stir-up Sunday leaves just over four weeks for a cake or pudding to mature.
How often should I feed a Christmas cake?
Most UK bakers feed once a week or once a fortnight with 1 to 2 tablespoons of brandy, rum, sherry or fruit juice, spooned over the top. Choose one rhythm and stick to it. Too much at once can make the cake soggy.
When should I stop feeding a Christmas cake?
Stop about a week before you put the marzipan on so the top is dry enough for the marzipan to stick. In this schedule the last feed is at least 6 days before the marzipan day.
Can I make a Christmas pudding after Stir-up Sunday?
Yes. Stir-up Sunday is tradition, not a deadline. A pudding made with alcohol keeps for months in a cool cupboard, so a later date works, with fewer weeks of feeding. An alcohol-free pudding has no spirit to preserve it, so make it closer to Christmas and use it within about four to six weeks.
How long do I steam a Christmas pudding on Christmas Day?
Steam it for at least 2 hours for the best texture, or follow the instructions on your recipe or pack. Heat it until piping hot, 70C in the centre, and reheat it only once.
Sources
- Waitrose: Stir-up Sunday 2026 (date, keeping times)
- Christmas Countdown: Christmas pudding, feeding and reheating (feeding, 2 hours steaming, 70C)
- ReminderIt: Christmas cake feeding schedule 2026 (weekly or fortnightly, stop about a week before decorating)
Sources read 4 November 2026. TCH Works is not affiliated with any of them.