I was somewhat late last year getting organized to bake fruitcake for Art, mom, some relatives and friends. I don't eat fruitcake. It doesn't have any chocolate in it. Or maybe it's because mom had a generous friend several decades ago who always gifted us each year with fruitcake that she'd bought. My brother doesn't like fruitcake either. I wonder if it's because we had to eat that fruitcake in our childhood.
Art and his sister, on the other hand, LOVE fruitcake. Honest. They really do. Whenever we'd go on trips overseas to Europe, Art would look for fruitcake so he could buy one for his sister and one for himself. He never found THE perfect fruitcake.
And then I saw this fruitcake recipe on Jalna's blog. It was simple enough that I thought I could manage it. That was four years ago and I've made it ever since because Art says it's just what he was looking for. Mom loves it too. (I mean really loves it!) Maybe it's because it's a recipe from Betty Shimabukuro of Hawaii. (This is the fruitcake I also gave Honolulu Aunty.)
I'm so grateful for my stand mixer.
I made the third batch on Christmas Eve and froze them.
When I brought some fruitcake to our son's home a couple years ago, I made some without the alcohol wrap so my grandsons could try it. Everyone said they liked it better without alcohol so that's how I made it after that.
This year, Art said I should try it again with alcohol just to remember what that taste was.
I only had Scotch which I use for my Thanksgiving stuffing.
I'm told Brandy is best for fruitcake. However, I decided to soak three of the fruitcakes with the Scotch.
But no, I'm still not eating it. It's for Art and mom. With alcohol on it, who knows? Maybe my brother would be interested in trying it then. Do you like fruitcake?
I like fruitcake but have only ever found a particular type we found years ago from a commercial manufacturer as I've never made one myself. My family didn't like fruitcake, only my mother and I did. I don't care for fruitcakes made with a dark cake. I do like only the fruitcake made with a light cake but very little of it. The cake I like has no citron, is mostly just so much candied fruit and pecans that very little light cake is needed to hold it all together. Unfortunately, the company that made that cake was sold, the cost of ingredients also were increasing so they were gradually decreased in quantity and the cake portion increased to keep the cake's cost down. The cake wasn't soaked in alcohol but could have been if wanted. My MIL made a very rich sausage cake soaked in bourbon, then wrapped to season, that was delicious. Your cake sounds like it would be very good.
ReplyDeleteThe cake part is okay but I detest the candied fruit. I made it once with walnuts and dried cherries and that wasn't bad but I only made it that one time.
ReplyDeleteI, too, have no taste for fruitcake.
ReplyDeleteIf you put enough Bourbon in it, I might take a bite. I like the cake and nuts part, but do not like the fruit.
ReplyDeleteWow Kay, you sure are full of surprises! From these great photos I thought you were going to announce your own fruitcake business! To be honest I don't know if I'm a fan or not, haven't tried it since I was a kid. Anyway, I thought the cakes were only soaked in rum? I learn something new every day :^)
ReplyDeleteI love that you don't eat fruitcake because it has no chocolate! Hah! I'm with Art, I like fruitcake, especially those with minimal or no alcohol in them.
ReplyDeleteLoved my mother's fruitcake. None of us have the recipe. Do not like any other.
ReplyDeleteNever have liked it. It's the candied fruit that I can't stomach.
ReplyDeleteNot a big fan of fruitcake but don't mind it with a slice of cheddar cheese.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Marcia. I dislike candied fruit, so fruitcake doesn't appeal to me. Nor does spumoni ice cream.
ReplyDeleteI have never liked fruitcake, but I remember once years ago at a party I was served a wonderful fruitcake. Nothing since has been very good. Glad to know there really are people who love it! :-)
ReplyDeleteI like all kinds, even the ones that have expiration dates in the next century:) Never had a home made one though. That looks like a lot of work but sure looks delicious.
ReplyDeleteI love fruitcake! This year I was unable to make it due to no candied fruit- I only shop at Aldi and they don't carry it- but I'll be back to making it next year. I give a loaf away to a man who works with my sister and one also to her and keep one for myself. I'm not fond of raisins so I use dates and sometimes dried cranberries. cherries, or even blueberries. My recipe has less flour than yours and I always soak the candied fruit in rum or brandy. I usually make it in October so by the time Christmas arrives, it's good and boozy since I spritz it weekly too LOL. Next year I'll post my recipe for you on your blog!
ReplyDeleteI never cared for fruitcake - thought it was for old people. Over the years I have had to nibble on fruitcake when offered but didn't like the denseness and overcooked texture.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the fruitcake that you gave me last week was delicious! I had a piece with tea and then another with coffee. Yum! Thank you for sharing, Kay!
Let’s thank Jalna and Betty too. 😁
DeleteHard work, I do like fruitcake.
ReplyDeleteI love good fruitcake, which means I don't want a lot of that candied citron, but rather raisins, cherries, pineapple. I make a recipe that uses applesauce and then I too soak it in brandy for weeks. The problem here is that it makes a huge amount, far more than I should be eating, and I can find few people to give it to. Fruitcake has such a bad rep.
ReplyDeleteThe Corsicana Texas fruitcake was tolerable as a child. Then my parent's church started making my Mom's recipe, selling jillions of them for fundraisers for many years. It barely had any dough to it. I dislike Brazil nuts.
ReplyDeleteI prefer my family's recipe for Walnut Bourbon Balls. It has chocolate in it. It calls for a quarter cup of bourbon and they don't have to be pampered with more booze. My kids don't like them but that's fine; more for me! I made a batch over the holidays. They're all gone. Not sure if sake could be used? Linda in Kansas
I do make fruitcake and I posted my recipe and my process on an early December blog post. My fruitcake has lots of fruit and nuts and very little cale.
ReplyDeleteI love fruitcake. My Mom made the best fruit cakes but she's been gone since 73.
ReplyDeleteI love fruitcake, but no one makes it any more and I don't have a recipe anymore. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteIt's ok. My grandma used to make it, and anything she did was ok with me.
ReplyDeleteMy dad used to make them. I don't really like it. Good for you for making it for family!
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