So what do you think?
@GardenGerty (162238)
United States
December 18, 2024 7:38pm CST
Hubby SAYS he likes traditional fruitcake. I do not. I do like dried fruits in "cakes" and we have a friendship cake we are working on a starter for.
Meanwhile, I have an abundance of overripe bananas. I have various dried fruits, and nuts as well.
I made banana bread and added dried blueberries, cherries, pineapple and dates to the batter. And walnuts. And some healthy ingredients I often add like chia, oats, flax and almond flour. There are two big loaves of this in the oven right now. They will be through baking about my bed time. I will have some for breakfast.
I like all the ingredients, so I SHOULD like them all combined. What do you think, will it be any good?
23 people like this
23 responses
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
19 Dec
I do not like the ones you buy in the store that feel like a brick and are very dry. I think they have something called candied citron in them that I dislike. Luckily what I can make in my own house I can control.
7 people like this
@sallypup (62883)
• Centralia, Washington
19 Dec
@GardenGerty The Dollar stores make a mockery of decent fruitcake and decent Christmas butter cookies.
5 people like this
@Dreamerby (6541)
• Calcutta, India
19 Dec
@GardenGerty Yeah they are. But there is a particular bakery I have found by doing hit and trial. I like the taste of their Christmas cake.
2 people like this
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@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
19 Dec
I figured that there had to be a few souls like me out there.
4 people like this
@sallypup (62883)
• Centralia, Washington
19 Dec
@GardenGerty We did not make fruitcake this year. We have for years- we follow a Rodale recipe if you know about that group. Whole wheat flour that we grind ourselves, dried fruits like cherries and apricots. NO fake colored waxy fruit from the store. Pecan, almonds, filberts: yes. Dried pineapple and even apple and cran raisins go in. And real butter and apple cider. Making a fruitcake is a two day labor of love. Then you wrap them up for about 3 weeks and let them ripen- hubby has rum poured over his and I have cider on mine cause I don't do booze. People have asked for our fruitcakes.
4 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (48573)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
19 Dec
@sallypup Um, cider is booze... otherwise it's just juice.
4 people like this
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@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
I like it a lot. Bob is really pigging out on it. I am glad, he needs the calories.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (48573)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
19 Dec
I love Costco's fruitcake and have been getting it for a few years now. However, I don't think it's as good this year as previous years. Still full of fruit and nuts, but I don't know... something's off.
I don't particularly like bananas, so I wouldn't put them in a fruitcake, but when I last made one, I put shredded zuccini in it... made it very moist.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
I used to frequently make zucchini breads. Never thought of adding fruits. It would be good.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
My older sister did. We had to get her at least one small one every year.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (346574)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec
It sounds good to me. I don't like fruit cake much but Vince has bought a Lions fruitcake which is great fund-raiser for Lions Club over Christmas. He is busy poking holes in it and pouring in whisky! 
That should improve it, don't you think? 
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3 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
I do not think Lion's Club here sells fruit cakes. In fact I have not heard much about them in years. I hope the whiskey makes the cake to your liking.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
I like sweet cherries and whipped cream with dark chocolate cake.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (185371)
• United States
19 Dec
If you like everything in it, I predict it will taste good
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
I would not put stuff in it that I dislike. It is very good.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
Bob is eating lots of it. I am enjoying it as well.
1 person likes this
@Manasha (2863)
• Pondicherry, India
19 Dec
t sounds like you’ve created quite the masterpiece! Your banana bread sounds both delicious and packed with wholesome ingredients—almost like a hybrid between a traditional fruitcake and a health-conscious treat. The dried fruits, nuts, and healthy add-ins like chia, oats, flax, and almond flour should add wonderful texture and flavor, not to mention some extra nutritional benefits.
I think it’ll be fantastic! The sweetness of the overripe bananas combined with the tangy pop of the dried blueberries, cherries, pineapple, and dates sounds like the perfect balance. And the walnuts will give it that nice crunch to complement the softer elements.
Given all the great ingredients, there’s no reason why this wouldn’t turn out to be a winner. Even if you’re not typically a fan of traditional fruitcake, this version seems to be in a league of its own. I hope it’s everything you’re imagining and more—enjoy it for breakfast tomorrow! ?? Let us know how it turns out!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
Oh it is delicious. It made a great breakfast. Hubby is really enjoying it.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (92063)
• United States
19 Dec
I love fruitcake but more like the British Christmas cakes.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
So, is that like "figgy pudding"? Or something else?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
It is very good. Hubby is eating a lot of it and I am glad. He needs it.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
It is very good and filling as well.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
That is why I am having this compromise. It is definitely not fruit cake.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (171528)
• Boise, Idaho
19 Dec
Probably will be fine. Remember that you could have for desert with icecream too.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
I can enjoy it around the clock for sure.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16848)
• China
19 Dec
We barely eat baked food.However your fruitcake must taste fine ! Don't know by the friendship cake if it means it gives consideration of the taste of you two.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
I do more baking and eating of baked goods at this time of year. We have our American Thanksgiving in November and that is when we really start to indulge.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (141817)
• United States
19 Dec
I often add ground flax to foods I'm making. It's a good filler and has lots of fiber without changing the flavor too much.
I hope you added extra milk or water to your cake or the dried fruit will soak up the liquid and make your cake really dry.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
Yes, I doubled the milk that is called for. The flax, chia and fruit all required it.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118280)
• Anniston, Alabama
19 Dec
Yes! Sounds delicious to me.
I just finished baking the last friendship cake tonight. I'm tired.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
I am familiar with two different Friendship Cakes. I guess I am fortunate.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (6541)
• Calcutta, India
19 Dec
I think dried fruits can taste good in the cake when applied in moderation. Too many of that will indeed take away elements from teh actual taste of the cake.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162238)
• United States
20 Dec
I tried to be moderate in how much I added.
1 person likes this
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