Do You Like Fruitcake?
By LindaOH
@LindaOHio (181642)
United States
December 6, 2023 12:47pm CST
This time of year begs for the discussion of the oft-maligned fruitcake.
The fruitcake is a cake made with candied or dried fruit, spices and nuts. Depending on tradition, it is sometimes soaked in alcohol.
The earliest recipe in existence is from ancient Rome and includes raisins, pomegranate seeds and pine nuts mixed into a barley mash. In the Middle Ages preserved fruits, honey and spices were added.
Mail order fruitcakes began in 1913 in America. Collin Street Bakery and The Claxton Bakery in the south had access to large quantities of inexpensive nuts.for which the expression "nutty as a fruitcake" was derived in 1935.
Fruitcakes saturated with liqueurs or brandy and covered with powdered sugar prevent mold. When preserved with a good deal of alcohol, a fruitcake can last many years. A 106-year-old fruitcake was discovered in 2017 in "excellent condition" and "almost" edible.
In the US fruitcake has a bad reputation because of the mass-produced, inexpensive cakes. I've heard them referred to as doorstops; BUT a properly made fruitcake is moist and delicious.
I happen to love a good fruitcake. How about you? I know at least one member that makes her own fruitcakes. Do you?
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
22 people like this
19 responses
@celticeagle (168269)
• Boise, Idaho
6 Dec 23
I had heard about the 106-year-old fruitcake. I've heard them referred to as doorstops too. Fresh is always nice. I don't make them and I don't eat them.
5 people like this
@celticeagle (168269)
• Boise, Idaho
7 Dec 23
@LindaOHio .......Usually too rich for me.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
7 Dec 23
They're good when they're made correctly.
3 people like this
@LovesEverybody (4388)
• United States
9 Dec 23
@LindaOHio when you used to bake, have you ever baked a fruitcake?
4 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Dec 23
Nothing wrong with fruitcakes just ate so much as a kid picking out the fruit that I am rather tired of them, They were not popular in Latvia so I am no longer used to these cakes, Walmart is offering fruit cakes so I will think about a small one,
5 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80748)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Dec 23
@LindaOHio thanks I will look for it
4 people like this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
7 Dec 23
I ordered a Claxton Fruitcake from Walmart for under $3. Had one last year; and it was pretty good. Claxton is a well-known bakery in the south.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (182188)
• United States
6 Dec 23
Yes, but not enough really to justify the calories. However, World market is selling a figgy pudding cake..I am thinking of buying that to take North..not going to cut into it here. That type of thing lying around might be deadly.
5 people like this
@snowy22315 (182188)
• United States
7 Dec 23
@LindaOHio Very similar to fruitcake..maybe not quite so many fruits and nuts.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
7 Dec 23
I'm ordering a Claxton fruitcake from Walmart. They are quite good and under $3.
3 people like this
@pitsipeahie (5011)
•
7 Dec 23
Oh yes, I love fruit cakes but only those that are well-made with high quality ingredients or home made. I love fruit cakes not just for the taste but the nostalgia and the positive memories from childhood that I associate to it.
4 people like this
@MommyOfEli2013 (84222)
• Rupert, Idaho
6 Dec 23
That's good that you like them....nothing about a fruitcake sounds appealing to me! lol
4 people like this
@FourWalls (69003)
• United States
6 Dec 23
That’s the key word: GOOD. It’s hard to find good fruitcake. A good slice of fruitcake is a delicious treat!
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (472097)
• Switzerland
9 Dec 23
@LovesEverybody You cook the fruitcake in the oven, as all the other cakes.
Well, I love "Irish Coffee" that is made pouring hot coffee over Irish Whiskey and then topping with thick dairy cream, it is delicious.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50528)
• United States
6 Dec 23
I love fruitcake. My mama made delicious ones.
4 people like this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
7 Dec 23
I would love to taste someone's homemade variety.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220225)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Dec 23
@LindaOHio Maybe I'll try a homemade one some day if there's plenty of coffee there.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
7 Dec 23
@TheHorse You should. Do you like candied fruit and nuts? If you don't, then you won't like fruitcake.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
7 Dec 23
lolololol The commercially made ones are usually bad.
3 people like this
@NJChicaa (120116)
• United States
6 Dec 23
I've never had it. For years I've wanted to make Alton Brown's Fruitcake but I've never gotten around to it. You have to make it several weeks in advance and then baste it periodically with some kind of liquor. I'll get to it eventually.
4 people like this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
7 Dec 23
Would love to taste that. I've never had one with liquor on/in it.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
8 Dec 23
@porwest So no oysters or fruitcake.
3 people like this
@porwest (92589)
• United States
7 Dec 23
@LindaOHio She says, "Try a good one," like THAT actually exists. There's only one place for a fruitcake and that's in a landfill and the best fruitcake to have is one I don't eat. lol
3 people like this
@arunima25 (87854)
• Bangalore, India
7 Dec 23
Fruit cakes have never been made at my home, but I have eaten it many times. And I just relish it. I am expecting some fruit cakes and plum cakes from my neighbour who is a Catholic and celebrates Christmas. She gives us a good share every Christmas.
3 people like this
@arunima25 (87854)
• Bangalore, India
8 Dec 23
@LindaOHio Yes, we wait for that every year. And she looks forward to the delicacies that I give her in Diwali.
3 people like this
@shaggin (72218)
• United States
7 Dec 23
My mother likes fruitcake. I remember being able to buy them at the dollar tree when I was young and they were so gross. The little bit about nutty as a fruitcake and the 106 year old fruit cake were both really interesting tidbits to read. This was a great read for my last post before bed.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
7 Dec 23
Glad you enjoyed it. I've tasted some really bad commercially made ones.
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (181642)
• United States
8 Dec 23
You're very welcome. I'm glad you like it.
2 people like this
