Art has always loved fruitcake. Always. And so has his sister. They grew up on the Big Island. I could never understand it since my brother and I (growing up on Oahu) only ever had the store bought type that friends at the newspaper company where mom worked gave to her every holiday season.
When we were on overseas trips Art would look for fruitcake to bring home to taste and also to send one to his sister. It NEVER measured up to his memories.
And then... Jalna of Photos By Jalna posted a recipe in 2016 which I have used ever since. It's the taste that Art had been looking for. I even brought some for his sister in California and yes, she liked it too.
I now make this recipe about 5 times every season. I did change the recipe a little. For instance, instead of buying a lot of candied fruit, I soak dried fruit in canned juice + a teeny bit of sugar and use that. I give quite a lot away to friends, neighbors and relatives (not my brother though 😂 and I still don't eat it).
And then I freeze a LOT for Art. You can see two sections deep of fruitcake that Art has throughout the year. I carefully wrap the fruitcake in wax paper, Saran Wrap and then stick it in plastic Ziploc bags that I reuse later since they're quite clean.
Art always has a thin slice for breakfast so the loaves will last longer.
But here we are in October and he's on his last loaf.
I guess it will soon be time to bake again...
I should really try that recipe and make your fruit juice substitution. I too love fruit cake but am not a fan of the alcohol taste that can be overwhelming in commercial varieties.
ReplyDeleteI love fruit cake. I find people are either fruit cakes or they are not, lol.
ReplyDeleteNot a fan myself either. How are you feeling lately? You wrote last month of all the troubles you've had with health issues.
ReplyDeleteKay of Musings: Hi Marcia! Thank you for asking. I got the ultrasound on my liver last week and will see my doctor on Friday. Fingers crossed on everything but my tummy is still not right so I just hope there’s some kind of cure. My daughter thinks I’m just too stressed out.
DeleteYou're a good wife 😃
ReplyDeleteGood tip on the fruit soaking.
ReplyDeleteI love fruitcake, but only what my father in law used to make. Sadly he passed awhile back....
ReplyDeleteI do think fruitcake is an acquired taste. My mother loved fruitcake and made one every year. I did not care for it. As an adult and needing to avoid cake, I have a taste for it. I ate it one Christmas season and it blew my A1C up and so I don't eat it now. Soaking fruit in juice sounds like a lower sugar option. I may try it. I probably will not. I lost my taste for fruitcake when I got bad news at the doctor's office.
ReplyDeleteMy parents and my wife would eat fruitcake. I'm with you though.
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea to soak dried fruits instead of the sugary candied stuff. But Art can make his parent's pies. Maybe he can learn about the fruitcake recipe? Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteHe cuts the parchment paper for me, but he doesn't want to take over fruitcake baking, I'm afraid.
DeleteIf I had grown up with fruitcake, perhaps I would like it. I don't care for the usual candied fruits that are in most fruitcakes. Yours might be different though!
ReplyDeleteI like fruit cake, but really only my own fruitcake. It uses mincemeat, honey, some candied fruit, some dried fruit, and several kinds of nuts. There is just enough "cake" to hold it together,. It is aged in brandy soaked cheesecloth. It is just a seasonal item atound here.
ReplyDeleteIt is clear that Art appreciateds his fruitcake.
Not a fan myself, Kay. But DH likes it... or at least he liked the one my friend (now deceased) used to make. She added more nuts and less candied fruit (I think).
ReplyDeleteYou are so clever! Making fruit cakes and you are not tempted to eat them yourself. We know now how you to stay so slim! We had a fruitcake sent to our office once, and no one would eat it. It came from a company in Texas. Looking at the wrapper, it LOOKED good, it had tons of cherries and pecans. I was the brave one who opened it up and guess what...it was great! Here's the thing, if I had been a better actress I could have taken it home with me. Alas, when they saw the look on my face, everyone dug into that cake!
ReplyDeleteWell done. I don't like fruit cake, although, my dad made it every year.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are feeling better soon. So sorry.
I do NOT like fruitcake. But glad for you that Art does and glad for Art that you make them for him. You two are too cute!
ReplyDeleteFruitcake was invented by the gods. Wonderful suff.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan but don't think I've ever had a good homemade one.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty rich to have fruit cake all year. I love fruit cake but we don't make it any more.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if we're talking about the same flavorings but often on the British baking shows, at least one layer of cake is a fruit cake. I think the one I enjoyed watching was "ultimate cakes", maybe? Even, Great British Baking. .? Maybe you might want to try baking these British versions for Art? Another variation: the between layers, frostings can be buttermilk and jam together. If you ever make any of these, I'd love to hear your opinion. Thanks Li
ReplyDeleteHello Li, Thank you for the ideas. I'm afraid Art wouldn't like the frosting though. He's really into tried and true.
DeleteI have never made a fruitcake - not a baker. But we have friends who make them every year and generously share. What I am remembering, though, is my daughter's wedding. The groom was Scottish and insisted that the wedding cake be, in his words, 'real' fruitcake, not fluffy North American version. Luckily I have a friend whose Scottish grandmother had entrusted her recipe to her. It took us two days to get the thing ready but the groom was happy.
ReplyDelete"I guess it will soon be time to bake again..."
ReplyDeleteI think it could be very soon :)
All the best Jan