Let’s Talk Fruitcake

[Yul Lose]

It’s that time of year again when visions of fruitcakes flow through my mind. My daughter in law is an excellent cook and brings over decadent desserts every Sunday evening for our family dinner. So this year I challenged her to come up with a fruitcake and since very few people that attend our family dinners like fruitcake I’ll get the lions share. Stay tuned for upcoming pictures, she just let me know that she’s going to try a couple of different recipes.

Edited November 12, 2025 by Yul Lose

[Chickasaw Bill SASS #70001]

simple fruitcake 

 

  forget the cake and drink the brandy 

 

   🤣

[Sgt. C.J. Sabre, SASS #46770]

No disrespect to your daughter, but that looks as disgusting as any fruitcake ever. Anybody ever giving me one of those would be invited to go with me to watch me shoot it.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

I like the way it looks.

[Rye Miles #13621]

I’m not a fan of fruitcake, I don’t hate it but there’s a lot more things around the holidays to eat. That said Yule’s daughter in laws cake looks pretty good.

[Boggus Deal #64218]

Kamala Harris! Oh! Wrong kind of fruitcake

[Eyesa Horg]

I don't even like the smell of it!!

[Alpo]

I just don't understand it.

 

In England they ate it year round - not just over the Christmas holidays. And it's like tea and crumpets or fish and chips - everybody eats it.

 

But here it's only for a month or a month and a half, and so many people hate it.

 

I wonder if so many people hate it because they've been told they're supposed to hate it.

 

Fruit cake is good. There are many things I miss about my mother being dead. But high up on the list is I no longer get a fruitcake every year.

[Pat Riot]

Who are you calling a “fruitcake”?

 

Oh, wait…no comma in the title. Never mind.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

I'll see if i can find my Grandma's "Fruit cake recipe for people who don't like fruit cake".  You can change every ingredient, or all of them, and still have a great desert.

 

I get it out every year about this time so it should'nt be too hard to find.

[Yul Lose]

24 minutes ago, Alpo said:

I just don't understand it.

 

In England they ate it year round - not just over the Christmas holidays. And it's like tea and crumpets or fish and chips - everybody eats it.

 

But here it's only for a month or a month and a half, and so many people hate it.

 

I wonder if so many people hate it because they've been told they're supposed to hate it.

 

Fruit cake is good. There are many things I miss about my mother being dead. But high up on the list is I no longer get a fruitcake every year.

My mother and grandmother made great fruitcakes. I guess that’s where I learned to like them so much. They’d have a kind of a contest each year to see who could come up with the best one. When my grandmother passed away my mother still kept trying to turn out a great fruitcake and they were usually cured in bourbon or some kind of alcohol. I was staying at my grandparents house over the holidays onetime and my grandmother liked to toast a piece of fruitcake and spread cream cheese on it and I still love it that way too. Mrs. Lose hates fruitcake so I don’t have to worry about her getting into my fruitcake stash.

[Subdeacon Joe]

36 minutes ago, Alpo said:

 

I wonder if so many people hate it because they've been told they're supposed to hate it.

 

Partly that,  and partly because the only fruitcake they ever tried was one of the really cheap,  low quality ones from Fingerhut or Walgreens. 

 

Usually I use the Fannie Farmer or Betty Crocker Dark Fruitcake receipt. But right now my oven is down. I have lots of dried cherries from the food bank, so I asked ChatGPT specifically for a loaf pan size one using dried cherries and dried cranberries. I cooked it in a 7" round pan in my Instant Pot multi cooker. I left in all the Chat comments because they tickle my whimsy. 

 

Here comes a cozy brick of holiday gravity: a dark fruit cake dense enough to stop time, yet tender enough to cut without causing a family feud. This one leans into dried cherries and cranberries, letting them glow like tiny stained-glass windows inside the loaf.

 

DARK FRUIT CAKE WITH CHERRIES AND CRANBERRIES (Loaf Pan)

Makes one 9-by-5 loaf

 

Ingredients

Fruit soak

1 cup dried cherries

1 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup dark raisins (optional but helps with richness; you can omit or replace with more cherries/cranberries)

1/2 cup brandy or apple cider

Zest of 1 orange

 

 

Cake

 

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/4 cup molasses

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon cloves

1/2 cup butter, melted

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

 

Instructions

 

1. Soak the fruit

Stir the dried cherries, cranberries, raisins (if using), brandy or cider, and orange zest in a bowl. Warm it in the microwave for 30 seconds so the fruit starts to drink it in. Let it sit at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight. The fruit gets plump and moody like it’s preparing for a winter novel.

 

 

2. Prep the oven

Heat oven to 325 F. Grease a 9-by-5 loaf pan and line with parchment so it lifts out like a treasure chest.

 

 

3. Mix the dry team

In a large bowl whisk flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

 

 

4. Mix the wet team

In another bowl stir melted butter, eggs, vanilla, and molasses. The batter will look like midnight syrup.

 

 

5. Combine

Add the wet ingredients to the dry. Stir just until mixed. Fold in the soaked fruit and any remaining liquid, plus nuts if you want that little crunch of woodland energy.

 

 

6. Bake

Scoop the thick batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake 60 to 75 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean or with a few sticky crumbs. If the top browns too fast, tent with foil.

 

 

7. Cool and cure

Let it cool in the pan 15 minutes, then lift out and cool fully. Wrapped tightly, this loaf ages beautifully for several days. If you want to go traditional, poke small holes and drizzle a tablespoon of brandy or cider on every day or two for a week.

 

 

ADDED:

 

I didn't line the bottom of the pan with parchment,  so a big section tore off when I turned it out of the pan, so we're munching on this one.   I have more fruit soaking in dark rum.

 

Edited November 12, 2025 by Subdeacon Joe

[Tex Jones, SASS 2263]

3 hours ago, Yul Lose said:

It’s that time of year again when visions of fruitcakes flow through my mind. My daughter in law is an excellent cook and brings over decadent desserts every Sunday evening for our family dinner. So this year I challenged her to come up with a fruitcake and since very few people that attend our family dinners like fruitcake I’ll get the lions share. Stay tuned for upcoming pictures, she just let me know that she’s going to try a couple of different recipes.

Looks pretty good to me.  

[Subdeacon Joe]

12 minutes ago, Tex Jones, SASS 2263 said:

Looks pretty good to me.  

 

 

What Tex said!

 

Thin slices of Fruitcake and some coffee for Christmas breakfast. 

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

"sugar is a wet ingredient"

[Cypress Sun]

 

A friend of mine's family has been giving the same un-opened fruitcake to each other for at least 15 years, maybe more. They just never know who is going to be the lucky recipient.

[Stump Water]

1 hour ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

1/2 cup brandy

 

That's the crux of the biscuit right there.

 

Dark rum works too.

[Subdeacon Joe]

18 minutes ago, Stump Water said:

 

That's the crux of the biscuit right there.

 

Dark rum works too.

 

So would pomegranate juice,  cranberry juice, or cherry juice.  

[Alpo]

Mama used bourbon. Old Crow, specifically, because that's what Daddy drank so that's what we had in the house.

[Subdeacon Joe]

52 minutes ago, Alpo said:

Mama used bourbon. Old Crow, specifically, because that's what Daddy drank so that's what we had in the house.

 

Mom used Boone's Farm Loganberry Wine.  So I tended to use port or sherry.  Never did get a taste for using bourbon or whiskey. Now I use dark rum or spiced brandy.

 

Hmm....maybe next year I'll try something like one of the apple or honey bourbons.

 

[J-BAR #18287]

Mom and Dad made a fruitcake from scratch when I was about 6 years old.  Started in October, aged until Christmas.  Very anti climactic.  It wasn't better than store bought, and wasn't worth the effort. I will eat a piece when available, but it is not a holiday essential.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 13, 2025 by J-BAR #18287

[DeaconKC]

We were in Cracker Barrel yesterday and they had some small fruitcakes that looked pretty good. I may have to pick one up just to have one again. [the small one will work just fine as my Missus doesn't like fruitcake]

[Blackwater 53393]

Badger Mountain Charlie’s wife made the best fruitcake ever, according to Schoolmarm.  He would send her one every year until he passed.

 

Ms. Badger made hers and soaked it in rum for a spell before sending them out!

 

I never liked fruitcake, but I tried a bite of one of those and it WAS tolerable.

 

I miss ol’ Badger!!

[Dapper Dave]

Unfortunately I haven't been to a Christmas gathering in almost 30 years, family all gone, wife's family doesn't do anything, and my ex-wife hated the holidays because her parents died around Christmas, so, no fruitcake, or ham, or pie, tree, mistletoe, presents, or any of the traditional Christmas stuff. When I was with my new wife for our first Christmas I decorated the house, which I hadn't been able to do for 23 years...and nobody cared. So after the holiday was over I dumped them all in the trash. Nowadays I volunteer to cover a shift on Christmas so someone with a family who does something can have the day off.

Maybe I should ask them to bring a slice of fruitcake, so I can see what it actually tastes like. Maybe I'll just get Chinese take out - they are open.  

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

I have had fruitcake that I liked. Bought one last year. way too sweet and moist. I am averse to throwing out food. but this one tripped my trigger and out it went. I have a little room in the budget so I'll try agsain this year maybe try twice.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

 

Hey Alpo,

 

Don't know where in England you were, but in my years stationed in the UK, and hanging out with Brit friends, only time Fruit Cake appeared was at Christmas.  It was funny, as my fav Brit family used the Fruit Cakes they received as Door Stops.  Left 'em inna plastic wrapper.  They had a big German Shepherd and the dog wouldn't touch 'em.

[J-BAR #18287]

https://www.assumptionabbey.org/fruitcakes
 

Some decent fruitcakes are made by Cistercian monks at Assumption Abbey, in Ava, Missouri, about 60 miles east of Springfield.  If I were going to buy a fruitcake,  this would be the one.

 

 

 

Edited November 15, 2025 by J-BAR #18287

[John Kloehr]

Strange tradition. It all started a long time ago with a single fruitcake, and it was regifted as many times as possible between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Whoever got stuck with it at the end had to keep it until the following year.

 

But then someone ate it. Several folks stepped up and made a new one to keep the tradition alive. Nobody knows how many there are in circulation today, but it is clearly more than one. Because someone eats one every now and then, the net number in circulation still keeps going up. Tradition!

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

There were four Magi. The fourth King brought fruit cake and was never mentioned again.

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

Here's my grandmother's and mother's boiled fruit cake recipe "For those of you who truly, deeply HATE fruitcake.

 

2 cups raisins

2 cups dates

3 cups water

1 cup shortning or butter

3 cups granulated sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp cloves

2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

2 small jars of fruit mix or gum drops (if you use gum drops DO NOT BOIL THEM)  HINT:  Sunmaid DEHYDRATED FRUIT MIX IS A GOOD SUBSTITUTE.  Candied fruit works pretty well, too.  FWIW, Strawberries and bananas don't work at all.

 

Mix ingredients together in a large pan 

 

boil ingredients for a few minutes, then let then cool to lukewarm

4 cups flour HINT:  3 cups flour and 1 cup almond or hazelnut meal works well, too.  

2 tsp baking soda

sift these two ingredients together

2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans (or even cashews)

2 cups gum drops (see above)

 

MIX ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER AND STIR THOROUGHLY

 

Add 2 tsp lemon juice and stir it in 

 

PUT IN GREASED LOAF PAN OR CUP CAKE TIN

 

BAKE FOR 1 ONE HOUR AT 325-350 DEGREES F.  (F YOUUSE CENTIGRADE YOU'LL HAVE TO DO YOUR OWN MATH)

 

COOL THOROUGHLY! EAT! ENJOY!

 

NOTE: ADD BRANDY, APPLE CIDER, RUM OR ANY OTHER ALCOHOLIC FRUIT JUICES AT YOUR OWN RISK!

 

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Joyful New Year, or any other celebrations.  This stuff isn't locked into any particular day.  I've used, or seen it used, at graduation and promotion parties, birthdays and weddings, one divorce party (they parted as best friends, simply didn't want to be married), and anniversaries...or just because.  

Edited November 15, 2025 by Forty Rod SASS 3935

[Subdeacon Joe]

22 minutes ago, Forty Rod SASS 3935 said:

Here's my grandmother's and mother's boiled fruit cake recipe "For those of you who truly, deeply HATE fruitcake.

 

2 cups raisins

2 cups dates

3 cups water

1 cup shortning or butter

3 cups granulated sugar

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp cloves

2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

2 small jars of fruit mix or gum drops (if you use gum drops DO NOT BOIL THEM)  HINT:  Sunmaid DEHYDRATED FRUIT MIX IS A GOOD SUBSTITUTE.  Candied fruit works pretty well, too.  FWIW, Strawberries and bananas don't work at all.

 

Mix ingredients together in a large pan 

 

boil ingredients for a few minutes, then let then cool to lukewarm

4 cups flour HINT:  3 cups flour and 1 cup almond or hazelnut meal works well, too.  

2 tsp baking soda

sift these two ingredients together

2 cups chopped walnuts or pecans (or even cashews)

2 cups gum drops (see above)

 

MIX ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER AND STIR THOROUGHLY

 

Add 2 tsp lemon juice and stir it in 

 

PUT IN GREASED LOAF PAN OR CUP CAKE TIN

 

BAKE FOR 1 ONE HOUR AT 325-350 DEGREES F.  (F YOUUSE CENTIGRADE YOU'LL HAVE TO DO YOUR OWN MATH)

 

COOL THOROUGHLY! EAT! ENJOY!

 

NOTE: ADD BRANDY, APPLE CIDER, RUM OR ANY OTHER ALCOHOLIC FRUIT JUICES AT YOUR OWN RISK!

 

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Joyful New Year, or any other celebrations.  This stuff isn't locked into any particular day.  I've used, or seen it used, at graduation and promotion parties, birthdays and weddings, one divorce party (they parted as best friends, simply didn't want to be married), and anniversaries...or just because.  

 

 

OK, rather than soaking the fruit overnight,  or for a couple of days,  you boil it. 

 

As i was reading that I thought,  "Dang! That spiced fruit would be great on vanilla ice cream."  Especially if that ice cream was on top of a big slab of Dutch Apple Pie.

 

The other thing that came to mind was to make it into an actual Boiled Fruitcake,  which,  I guess, would be something like a traditional Plum Pudding. I  can hear it now, "WAIT! How do you make a boiled cake‽"

 

 

 

Edited November 15, 2025 by Subdeacon Joe

[Forty Rod SASS 3935]

15 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

 

OK, rather than soaking the fruit overnight,  or for a couple of days,  you boil it. 

 

As i was reading that I thought,  "Dang! That spiced fruit would be great on vanilla ice cream."  Especially if that ice cream was on top of a big slab of Dutch Apple Pie.

 

The other thing that came to mind was to make it into an actual Boiled Fruitcake,  which,  I guess, would be something like a traditional Plum Pudding. I  can hear it now, "WAIT! How do you make a boiled cake‽"

 

 

 

Dutch apple pie should be outlawed.  It's really and truly addictive.  Right up there with peach pie.

 

 

[Alpo]

Dutch Apple - that's the one that instead of having a crust on top has crumbs?

[Subdeacon Joe]

Yep.

[Yul Lose]

My daughter in laws first fruitcake. It’ll be delivered tomorrow I’ll let you know how it turned out.