Christmas Fruitcake Recipe
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Christmas Fruitcake

By: Karen Uffelman 
"It's a shame that fruitcake as a species gets such a bad rap. With its two key ingredients - rum and butter - it ought to be a hit. This recipe includes dried fruit, instead of the glowing, candied stuff we've all learned to associate with fruitcake, and is less dense and more cake-like than many fruitcake recipes. It has become a favorite of my friends and family around the holidays (even the skeptical ones), and is delicious by itself, or covered with a layer of almond paste."

This Kitchen Approved Recipe has an average star rating of 5.0 Rate/Review | Read Reviews (26)

Prep Time:
20 Min
Cook Time:
45 Min
Ready In:
11 Days

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Original Recipe Yield 1 - 6 inch round pan
 

Ingredients

  • 1/8 cup chopped dried cherries
  • 1/8 cup chopped dried mango
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup dried currants
  • 2 tablespoons chopped candied citron
  • 1/4 cup dark rum
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup unsulfured molasses
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup dark rum, divided

Directions

  1. Soak cherries, mango, cranberries, currants, and citron in 1/4 cup rum for at least 24 hours. Cover tightly, and store at room temperature.
  2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Butter a 6x3 inch round pan, and line with parchment paper.
  3. In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mix into butter and sugar in three batches, alternating with molasses and milk. Stir in soaked fruit and chopped nuts. Scrape batter into prepared pan.
  4. Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons rum.
  5. Cut out one piece parchment paper and one piece cheesecloth, each large enough to wrap around the cake. Moisten cheesecloth with 1 tablespoon rum. Arrange cheesecloth on top of parchment paper, and unmold cake onto it. Sprinkle top and sides of cake with remaining rum. Wrap the cheesecloth closely to the surface of the cake, then wrap with paper. Place in an airtight tin, and age for at least 10 weeks. If storing longer, douse with additional rum for every 10 weeks of storage.

Nutritional Information open nutritional information

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 302 | Total Fat: 14.8g | Cholesterol: 57mg Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

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The reviewer gave this recipe 4 stars. This recipe averages a 5.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 9, 2003 by JONNI   view full review
My sisters and I always joke about getting Gramma a fruit cake for Christmas. But now gramma...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 5.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 5, 2007 by ABoston Supporting Member (Click to learn more about Supporting Membership)  view full review
Karen, thanks for standing up for fruitcake!! Indeed, this is nothing like the heavy brick of...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 5.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 19, 2004 by BOBETT2   view full review
The worst thing about this cake, is that it goes so fast. I make this cake every year but now...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 5.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 25, 2004 by eclee   view full review
I didn't have time 70 days to mature, only 17 days, but the cake came out excellent. My...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 5.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 23, 2006 by Wendi   view full review
Very tasty! This was my first attempt at a fruitcake so I was quite anxious to unvail it and...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 5.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Jan. 27, 2008 by Michelle   view full review
this recipe is great! I started making it 2 years ago and now I'm getting orders from...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 5.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 13, 2007 by CHEFANDERSEN   view full review
I could not stop eatting this...I like fruit cake, but I loved this recipe...I soaked it in...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 5.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Oct. 26, 2009 by KATNIP21F   view full review
No store-bought fruitcake can compare to this! I made enough to give as gifts, and now it's...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 5.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Dec. 18, 2003 by janice   view full review
This is an excellent recipe. The cake comes out light, moist and delicious. If you don't like...
The reviewer gave this recipe 5 stars. This recipe averages a 5.0 star rating.
Reviewed on Nov. 22, 2006 by Bobett   view full review
I make this every year. It is by far the best recipe I have ever found. I can't always find...

 

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