What Goes Into the Best Fruit Cake?

Once upon a time, a holiday fruitcake was among the most beloved of seasonal treats (December 7^th is National Fruitcake Day), but in modern times it has suffered a decrease in popularity (January 7^th is Fruitcake Toss Day). Maybe it’s because fruitcake can be very heavy, or maybe it’s because chocolate is more readily available nowadays…regardless, fruitcake sometimes gets a bad rap, but it never really goes away – in fact, every continent has its own versions. And it’s not just for the holidays or weddings anymore – due to its nutrient-dense makeup, fruitcake is growing in popularity with hikers, bikers, and endurance sport enthusiasts.

Here are few answers to some common questions about that enduring dish known to every gourmet, fruit cake:

What is fruitcake, anyway?

What makes fruitcake – well, fruitcake! – isn’t the fruit that goes into it, but how that fruit is prepared beforehand. For a fruitcake to be a fruitcake, the fruit and nuts that go into have to be “candied” – that is, dried and soaked in sugar. This, along with the fact that the ratio of fruit and nuts to batter is very high (often there’s just enough batter to hold it together, is what makes the fruitcake so heavy.

How long has fruitcake been around?

Fruitcake not only stays around a long time – it’s been around a long time. Some of the earliest recipes date back to ancient Rome (which included pomegranates and pine nuts in the list of ingredients) and the Middle Ages (when honey, spices and other preserved fruits were added). Over time, fruitcake became Christmas staple and a traditional wedding cake in my countries.

What kinds of fruit go into fruitcake?

Fruit cake fruit can be made up of any fruit, really, but traditional fruits include currants, cranberries, cherries, raisins, apricots and dates. Even candied pineapple has made its way into fruitcake, and don’t think citrus fruits have been left out – many recipes call for orange, lemon or lime zest and/or juice.

Can you freeze fruit cake?

You can, but why would you? The preserved fruit is also what lends to the fruitcake’s legendary longevity. Many fruitcake recipes also call for the cake to be soaked in alcohol (or recommend using an alcohol-soaked cloth when storing fruit cake), which increases that longevity to a point where a cake can still be eaten a quarter of a century after it’s made – or longer. For those wondering how long does fruit cake last, keep in mind Jay Leno once sampled a 125-year-old piece on The Tonight Show!

There are many tips on how to store fruit cake, and freezing is just one of them. Not only can you freeze Christmas fruit cake, but many people do like to prepare it a year in advance to be eating during the next holiday season. Since alcohol doesn’t mellow when frozen, though, an old-fashioned fruit cake with brandy should be aged at least four weeks before freezing. Ironically, traditional fruit cake actually has a shorter shelf life when stored in a refrigerator, so you’re best bet is to freeze it or just let the candied fruits and alcohol do the preserving for you.

Is fruitcake hard to make?

When a food has been around for as long as fruitcake has, there’s really no end to the variations between recipes for it. From grandma’s fruit cake recipe to German stollen, fruitcakes comes in light and dark versions as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions. You might come across an old-fashioned rum fruit cake recipe in your great-aunt’s favorite cookbook, or a southern fruit cake recipe while visiting the American South. There’s no end to the options available to you if you want to try making your own, but if you’d rather have it made by someone else you’re sure to find fruit cake for sale locally during the holidays. And if you don’t want to wait ’til the holidays to try fruit cake, online order is a good way to go.

Where can I buy fruit cake?

If you’re having trouble finding where to buy fruit cake, buy online – Hale Groves version is a traditional fruitcake like your grandmother might have made, timeless with just a bit of southern flair. It makes a great gift, too! And you won’t even have to figure out how to gift wrap fruit cake – ours comes in a pretty keepsake holiday tin.