Ah, Fruitcake—the classic holiday treat packed with dried fruits, nuts, and spices! 🎄🍰
Here’s a traditional, reliable recipe.
Classic Fruitcake (Makes 1 Loaf)
Ingredients
Fruits & Nuts
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup currants
- 1 cup chopped dried apricots or dates
- ½ cup candied cherries
- 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds)
Batter
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp salt
- 2–3 tbsp brandy, rum, or orange juice (plus more for soaking if desired)
Instructions
- Prep fruit
- In a bowl, combine all dried fruits and nuts.
- Optionally soak fruits in brandy or rum for several hours or overnight for extra flavor.
- Prepare batter
- Cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
- Beat in eggs, one at a time.
- Mix in flour, baking powder, spices, and salt.
- Combine
- Fold in fruits and nuts until evenly distributed.
- Bake
- Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).
- Grease and line a loaf pan.
- Pour batter into pan and smooth the top.
- Bake 60–75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cover with foil if the top browns too quickly.
- Cool & store
- Let cool completely before slicing.
- Optionally brush with additional brandy or rum for aging/flavor.
Tips & Variations
- 🌰 Use a mix of your favorite nuts and dried fruits
- 🍊 Add orange or lemon zest for brightness
- 🎁 Wrap in plastic and age a few weeks for richer flavor
- 🍫 Chocolate chips can be added for a modern twist
I can also give a small-batch fruitcake or a no-alcohol version if you want.
Do you want me to provide that version?
