These Fruitcake Recipes Will Turn Anyone Into a Fan of the Holiday Treat (2024)

FAQs

How did fruitcake become a holiday tradition? ›

Why is fruitcake eaten at Christmas? It's hard to determine exactly when fruitcake became associated with the holidays; however, it is believed that it started it happened during the 18th and 19th centuries when the cost of the ingredients was too expensive for most households to afford.

Fruitcakes were so rich, they were considered sinful and were outlawed in Europe in the early 18th century. Restrictions eased later in the century.

Slang. a crazy or eccentric person; nut.

Other good choices of booze include brandy, rum, or whiskey. Feel free to use one or a mix of these to best complement your fruitcake. Once you've chosen the liquor, bake the cake, poke holes throughout the whole thing, and pour a few tablespoons of the alcohol over it. Or, you can brush the cake with the alcohol.

The ancient Romans made a mishmash of barley, pomegranate seeds, nuts and raisins as a sort of energy bar; however the modern fruitcake can be traced back to the Middle Ages as dried fruits became more widely available and fruited breads entered Western European cuisine.

The modern fruitcake was created as a way to deal with the abundance of sugar-laced fruit and, by the early 19th century, the typical recipe was full of citrus peel, pineapples, plums, dates, pears, and cherries.by the late 1800s, the fruitcake was gifted in decorative tins, becoming a holiday staple with Christmas and ...

The English began making plum cakes—here, the word “plum” refers to any type of dried fruit—which were also called Christmas cakes. In Victorian England, they became a decadent staple at weddings and holiday gatherings, and since the ingredients weren't cheap, simply eating it was an occasion in itself.

By the early 18th century the church in Europe banned the treat except for special occasions such as weddings and christenings because it was "sinfully rich." That ecclesiastical disapproval notwithstanding, by the end of the 18th century bans were repealed and fruitcake fans could indulge.

Fruitcakes came to America with the early colonists, but demand for the treat skyrocketed in 1913, when they became available by mail. A few U.S. companies built robust businesses filling orders and delivering Christmas fruitcake to friends and family far and wide.

Referring to a beautifully shaped booty: In slang, "cake" can be used to describe a very nicely shaped buttocks. It is often used as a compliment [1].

What do British call fruitcakes? ›

Did you know that the of eating fruitcake around the holidays stemmed from Great Britain? The traditional Christmas dessert isn't at all similar to the candied peel and citron cakes you might think of when “fruitcake” is mentioned. Called Christmas cake or plum cake in Great Britain, the dessert dates to Roman times!

Jenkins, a low-level employee at the city's famed fruitcake company, the Collin Street Bakery, embezzled $17 million from 2004 to 2013, spending the money on cars, trips, watches, and jewelry—all so that he could keep up appearances with the upper crust of his town of 24,000.

Here are some tips to help you make a moist fruit cake: Ingredients: Fruits:Use a variety of dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas, currants, chopped dates, and candied peel. Soak the dried fruits in a liquid (like alcohol or fruit juice) overnight to plump them up and infuse flavor.

Fruitcake or fruit cake is a cake made with candied or dried fruit, nuts, and spices, and optionally soaked in spirits.

Many classic home recipes involve soaking the cake in rum, brandy or bourbon—liquor that can add some flavor but is mostly used for its antimicrobial properties. Alcohol makes a fruitcake more acidic, creating a harsh environment for many common foodborne microbes.

Richer families that had ovens began making fruit cakes with marzipan, an almond sugar paste, for Easter. For Christmas, they made a similar cake using seasonal dried fruit and spices. The spices represented the exotic eastern spices brought by the Wise Men. This cake became known as "Christmas cake."

A few generations ago, preparing these desserts was the only way to preserve and enjoy fruits and sweets of harvest in the colder months. But as time passed by, fruitcakes became synonymous with Christmas around the world. Love them or hate them, fruitcakes are going to stay as a traditional Christmas staple!

In Victorian England, they became a decadent staple at weddings and holiday gatherings, and since the ingredients weren't cheap, simply eating it was an occasion in itself. There's no proof that Americans borrowed this tradition and opted to only eat the cake on the holiday for which it's named, but it seems likely.

The earliest recipe from ancient Rome lists pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins that were mixed into barley mash. In the Middle Ages, honey, spices, and preserved fruits were added. Fruitcakes soon proliferated all over Europe.