Stirring Up the Season: Inside the Timeless Tradition of Cake Mixing at ITC Grand Central

Stirring Up the Season: A Story of Tradition, Togetherness & the Sweetest Start to Christmas
Long before twinkling lights are strung up or Christmas trees are dressed, the festive season quietly begins with a ritual as old as time, the Cake Mixing Ceremony. What started centuries ago in Europe as the soaking of fruits ahead of winter celebrations has now travelled across cultures and continents, evolving into a beloved community tradition. In India, where celebrations find their meaning in togetherness, this ritual has been warmly embraced, becoming a marker of warmth, abundance, and the promise of joy-filled days ahead.

The essence of cake mixing is simple yet deeply symbolic; coming together to prepare something that matures, deepens, and becomes sweeter with time, much like the relationships we celebrate during the holidays. Large bowls are filled with dried fruits, nuts, spices, and spirits. Hands, many hands, go in together, stirring, tossing, laughing, and creating a mosaic of flavours that will eventually become the heart of Christmas plum cakes and puddings.

This act of collective mixing is more than a culinary step; it is a shared blessing for the season to come, a festive wish for prosperity, love, and good cheer. Every ingredient holds meaning. Nuts for prosperity. Candied fruits for joy. Spices for warmth. Spirits for celebration. And of course, the laughter that fills the room, for memories.

This year, I witnessed this timeless tradition come alive at one of Mumbai’s most elegant addresses, the ITC Grand Central.

A Festive Evening at Frederick’s Lounge: Cake Mixing at ITC Grand Central
On 8th November 2025, as the sun softened over Parel’s skyline, Frederick’s Lounge at ITC Grand Central began to glow with the unmistakable warmth of the holidays. Guests trickled in, hotel patrons, families, friends, and familiar faces, all greeted with aprons, gloves, and the unmistakable aroma of spices that instantly evoked festive nostalgia.

Hosted by General Manager Kunal Pahwa and his hospitality team, the setting was charmingly reminiscent of an old-world Christmas with colonial interiors, soft music, clinking glasses, and long tables overflowing with festive treasures.

Before us lay a vibrant, almost artistic spread: apricots, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pistachios, raisins, cranberries, black currants, dates, prunes, figs, tutti-frutti, candied ginger, candied orange peels, glazed cherries, and warming spice blends; each shimmering like jewels under the lights.

As we gathered around, Pahwa shared a few words; a reminder that this ritual is not just about baking but about community, continuity, and the collective joy of welcoming the season. His message echoed through the room: “The warmth of this ceremony lies in doing it together.”

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.

Gloved hands went in, some cautiously, some gleefully, and the mixing began. Spices rose into the air. Spirits flowed generously. Laughter peaked. Conversations overlapped. What started as a bowl of ingredients slowly transformed into a single, fragrant, joyous mass, a celebration in itself.

Standing there, stirring alongside strangers who felt like instant acquaintances, I realised why cake mixing remains so special. In that brief hour, we weren’t just preparing fruit for cakes; we were stirring in anticipation, tradition, stories, and the collective warmth of a community ready to embrace December.

A Ceremony That Lives On Beyond the Afternoon
As the ceremony wound down, the mixed fruits were whisked away to rest and mature, soon to become ITC Grand Central’s signature Christmas cakes and puddings. But the spirit of the evening lingered on our sleeves, in our laughter, and in the vivid whiff of candied fruits that clung to the air long after.

Participating in the cake mixing at ITC Grand Central felt like stepping into an annual legacy; one that blends nostalgia, hospitality, and the simple joy of doing something together.

And as we walked out into the cool November night, with festive music still playing behind us, it felt certain: the season had officially begun.