Ah, fruitcake—the classic holiday treat that’s dense, sweet, and packed with fruit and nuts. Here’s a reliable recipe for a traditional fruitcake:
Ingredients (makes 1 loaf or 1 9-inch cake)
Fruit Mixture:
- 2 cups mixed dried fruit (raisins, currants, chopped dates, chopped figs, chopped apricots)
- ½ cup candied cherries, chopped
- ½ cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds)
- ¼ cup orange juice or brandy
Cake:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prep fruit: Combine dried fruit, candied cherries, and nuts in a bowl. Pour over orange juice or brandy, stir, and let soak for at least 1 hour (overnight is best).
- Preheat oven: 325°F (165°C). Grease and line a loaf pan or 9-inch round pan.
- Make cake batter:
- Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each.
- Mix in vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, spices, and salt.
- Gradually fold dry ingredients into the butter mixture, alternating with milk, until smooth.
- Combine fruit and batter: Gently fold soaked fruit and nuts into the batter.
- Bake: Pour into prepared pan and bake 60–75 minutes (or until a toothpick comes out clean). If the top starts to brown too fast, cover loosely with foil.
- Cool & age (optional): Let cake cool completely. For a richer flavor, wrap in foil and store in an airtight container for a few weeks. You can occasionally brush with brandy or orange juice to keep it moist.
💡 Tips:
- For extra flavor, toast the nuts before adding them.
- If you like a darker, richer fruitcake, use dark brown sugar and add a tablespoon of molasses.
- Some people love a “boozy” cake—replace part of the milk with brandy or rum.
If you want, I can also give you a quick no-soak fruitcake recipe that’s easier for when you want it the same day. Do you want me to do that?
