~
GOLDEN FRUITCAKE
Without even looking at the calendar I knew that Christmas was around the corner when I saw my mother gathering supplies for her famous FRUITCAKES. She made them eight to ten weeks before CHRISTMAS when there was plenty of time to brush the loaves with bourbon or rum so the flavors would combine and mellow. She made several different recipes that we all loved, some very dark with a high fruit to cake ratio, but there was one in particular that I remember, a rich yellow cake batter filled with nontraditional fruits, and not too spicy so we could taste the delicate flavor of the cake and fruits. I looked through all of my mom’s files and couldn’t find the recipe , but a search on the internet took me to KING ARTHUR FLOUR’S website and I found a recipe close to what I was looking for.
I have a good supply of dried fruits that I use in the trail mix that I sell at my Farmers’ Market so I replaced some of the fruit called for in KA’s recipe with my own combination. A total of 6-3/4 cups of chopped dried fruit in listed in the recipe and I used a combination of dried lemon and orange peel, cantaloupe, mango, kiwi, cranberries, golden raisins and cherries. This medley produces cakes with a light, tropical flavor and jewel-like color. I don’t enjoy biting into large pieces of fruit so I chopped everything into 1/3 to 1/2 inch pieces, then let the fruit macerate overnight in rum. By the next day the fruit has absorbed most of the liquid.
The ratio of batter to fruit is about 50-50. I also added 2 cups of chopped pecans to the batter. I considered using hazelnuts but pecans sounded better with the tropical fruits. The FIORI DI SICILIA called for in the recipe is available on King Arthur’s website. It is a combination of citrus and vanilla with a pleasingly floral aroma and is a wonderful flavor enhancement to so many recipes. Pure vanilla extract can be substituted with excellent results.
This recipe makes the perfect amount to fill six 3-1/2″x5″ mini loaf pans. To ensure the cakes don’t stick I use a little pan spray and line the pans with pieces of parchment. The cake without nuts on the lower left is for my oldest daughter who, for some mysterious reason, doesn’t like nuts in desserts. She sure didn’t get that from me! I just scooped out enough batter for one pan before I added the pecans.
Here they are, the baked cakes waiting to be brushed with rum, wrapped well and refrigerated for the next month. I’ll give them a little rum bath once a week until Thanksgiving and then we will take a look at how the cakes hold together, how well they slice and, most importantly, how they taste. I’m posting this holiday recipe now because the cakes need to mellow for a month and you need to make them now of you want them for the holidays. Won’t these little cakes make lovely gifts. A slice or two with a cup of tea will always remind me of my mother.
- FRUIT:
- 2 cups raisins: golden, jumbo, or your favorite type of raisins
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup dried apricots, chopped
- 1 cup candied lemon peel
- 1¾ cups candied red cherries
- ¾ cup brandy, rum, or whiskey; or apple juice, plus extra to brush over the cakes when they come out of the oven
- CAKE
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1¾ cups sugar
- ¼ cup light corn syrup
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia, optional
- 5 large eggs
- 3¾ cups King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups diced pecans or walnuts, optional
- To prepare the fruit: Combine the dried fruit (except for the candied cherries) with liquid in a bowl. Cover and let the mixture steep overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 300°F. Lightly grease the loaf pans of your choice: two 8½" x 4½" loaf pans OR five 7" wooden bakers OR six 7" paper bake & give pans.
- To prepare the cake: In a large bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, corn syrup, baking powder, salt, and flavors.
- Beat in the eggs one at time.
- Stir in the flour alternately with the milk.
- Add the undrained fruit, the candied cherries (save a few for garnish if you like), and the nuts and combine well.
- Spoon the batter into the lightly greased baking pans, filling them three-quarters full.
- Bake the cakes for 50 to 80 minutes, depending on the size of the pans; smaller pans will bake for the shorter length of time. When done, the cakes will be a light golden brown all over, and a cake tester inserted into the center will come out clean.
- Remove the cakes from the oven. Brush with brandy or the liquor of your choice while warm.
- When completely cooled, wrap well and let rest at least 24 hours (or for up to a month, brushing with liquor or flavored syrup weekly), before serving.
I had several questions about this recipe, such as should the cakes be refrigerated after baking, so I called the King Arthur hotline. They agreed that they can be refrigerated but some people leave the at room temperature. I prefer the refrigerated approach. After all this work I don’t want any chance of spoilage. I have called the KA hotline many times and they have the answer to just about any baking question you could have. Don’t forget about this valuable resource if you need a little baking help.
Hello Cathy, I love the look of these fruit cake of yours, the fruit combinations looks so colorful and delicious! I would surely try this once my kitchen is back in working order:) Thanks for sharing.
Jeannie recently posted..Pumpkin Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread
I think you are the first person ever to truly tempt me with a fruitcake, these look fresh and delicious. I love the colors in your trail mix!
Lovely! Thanks for the reminder. My grandmother was the fruitcake maker in my family and she insisted that they needed to marinate in “spirits” for a minimum of two months. I wish I had her recipe. My recipe was clipped from a Parade Magazine about 30 years ago and has been a hit ever since.
Best,
Bonnie
Bonnie recently posted..Roasted Acorn Squash Soup
Thank you for sharing your tried and trues..thinking of you-
They look so pretty, Cathy! My Mom also loved fruitcake and we always had one at Christmas for her. They will make a fabulous ands thoughtful gift –I’m saving your recipe for next year when Ii will ahev more time–Thanks!
Pat recently posted..Beautiful Rhinebeck on the Hudson River
Love fruitcake and this sounds delicious. What a lovely remembrance of your mother too.
Marilyn recently posted..Richard Brandt, Ceramic Artist
I don’t think I’ve ever had fruitcake, it looks delicious! I love that it reminds you of your mom, all the more sweeter 🙂
Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook recently posted..Grilled Steaks with Ancho Butter and Rosemary Roasted Potatoes
They sure look pretty Cathy! I might just give it a try this year. A co-worker used to make them but I think she did a little more than ‘brushed’ the tops with rum:@)
I’m so glad to see you’ve made a fruitcake Cathy. I love the mini loaf pans. Great for gifts. I’ve made one once and if I can remember, I’m going to try again this year. Rum or bourbon, doesn’t matter, they are both good.
Sam
Sam @ My Carolina Kitchen recently posted..Cassoulet ~ a lighter, easier version of one of France’s greatest and richest stews from the South of France
I have never ever made a fruitcake, and my hubby loves them. This might just have to be the year for them. I love the fruits you’ve used in yours, and I think hubby would too. 🙂
Betty @ scrambled henfruit recently posted.."Wormy" Cider Spiced Apple Pie Bars
I wish somebody in my family beside me liked fruitcake. I have to depend on someone else having a piece to share.
Linda recently posted..Together on a Spooky Night
They look delicious Cathy and a far cry from the commercial ones typically seen at Christmas.
Larry recently posted..Ferrets And Yawnee
Those cakes look so good Cathy, but the important aspect is that you are carrying on a tradition. Makes me want to start the tradition in our family. They are beautiful.
Penny recently posted..Pasta with Sausage, Sage and Cream
Excellent! They look wonderful. Thanks for the recipe!
Pam recently posted..Tate’s Bake Shop ~ Baking For Friends ~ a Chocolate Raspberry Tart and a Giveaway
These look like the recipe my mom used for fruitcakes for many, many years. It was almost a pound cake-like consistency and she’d decorate them like you have with nuts and cherries. Lucky recipients!
Karen recently posted..Zucchini Tart
mmmm, nothing says christmas like a delicious fruitcake. this looks wonderful, and it’s so pretty!
teresa recently posted..Pepper Jack Pasta Salad
I’ve never made fruit cake. This one looks tasty, pretty, and festive!
Pam recently posted..Halloween Fun ~ Dracula’s Dentures
Cathy~
Yum, Christmas fruitcake! LOVE the stuff, and it doesn’t matter if my hubby hates it because I can easily eat one all by myself:)
I just found out about the passing of your mom Cathy and I wanted to extend to you my deepest sympathy. As you know, I understand. Hugs and prayers of comfort and peace to you and yours.
God bless,
Aimee
So festive! I need to bake a few soon! Thank you for sharing, Cathy.
[email protected] ’s Recipes recently posted..Marinated Fig and Parmesan Salad
My mum, at 86, still makes light and dark fruit cake. I get a dark one and my sister gets a light one. I’d love a light one, but after all these years Mum isn’t about to change her gifts and I’m not going to ask! I’ll buy a light cake from one of the many service clubs that bake them up here. There’s nothing nicer than a slice of homemade fruitcake with a glass of sherry and a cup of hot tea.
Yum…I love fruitcake and your tropical flavors sound great. I’ll have to start baking when I return from my vacation.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Lermoos…A Perfect Mountain Village
I wish I would have had this recipe when I was living in the UK. Every Christmas it is a contest to see who can bake the best fruit cake or mini mince pie. I definitely would have won an honorary best of show with this recipe. It sounds delicious.
Karen Harris recently posted..Something from Nothing: Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day and Pain d’Epi
The cakes look wonderful.
My mother makes a yearly fruitcake that I cannot eat. It is dark–burnt I think full of something called citron–I’m not sure what it is but I don’t like it.
I do trust KAF and trust their dried fruit–fruitcake blend. It’s delicious. I like the light color. I will make this.
cindy recently posted..Happy Birthday Mom!
What beautiful fruitcakes, Cathy! My mother made non-traditional fruitcake that wasn’t too sweet either so that’s my preferred style. Love this version with the basting of spirits 🙂
Susan recently posted..Maple-Roasted Carrots and Parsnips
That’s a fruitcake I’d like to try!
You are so smart Cathy to get these started now. I’m just beginning to wrap my head around the fact that I need to get in gear, Christmas is right around the corner! I know you will have some very happy family and friends as a reward for your preparations!
The Café Sucré Farine recently posted..Food Photography & Styling Day 2 and Ratatouille (Deconstructed)
Hi Cathy,
My Daddy loved the holiday fruit cakes . This makes me want to make one in his honor.
I have been thinking of you. I know how hard it is to lose a parent. No matter how old we get, it is such a void in our lives.
Hugs,
Kris
This is awesome, just earlier today I was thinking about making a fruitcake, then I see this! It’s fate! I must make it!
ATasteOfMadness recently posted..Mint Chocolate Ice Cream
I used to make fruitcake every year without fail. I really should get back into it and I need no convincing.
bellini recently posted..Spiced Apple Rings for The Canadian Food Experience Project