Why Fruitcake, the Maligned Holiday Treat, Is Finally Getting Some Respect

ADWEEK ^ | Robert Klara

[yarddog]

I have always liked good fruitcake.

The problem probably began with some made with really cheap ingredients.

[kalee]

Southern Supreme in NC is excellent.
http://www.southernsupreme.com/

[Yardstick]

Indeed!

Any anyone who has been clubbed with a fruitcake, or used one as the counterweight in a trebuchet, will certainly respect its heft.

[cherry]

I’m told that my fruitcakes are fabulous...I don’t actually eat the stuff, but my husband and all of his family eat it and love it...

[Yardstick]

Any = And

fruitcake’s fault

[cyclotic]

I like fruitcake. I’ve bought 5-6 Claxtons this year.

I’ll be receiving one for Christmas from my brother. I think this is the 27th year we’ve exchanged the same one. We use imaginative gift wrap. Last year, I gave it to him embedded in about 150 lbs of rocks and polyurethane adhesive.

[Liz]

Most fruit cakes are dark and unappetizing looking.
Southerners make a white fruit cake that is legendary.
This is a very popular, asked-for-fruitcake.

MRS. HARVEY'S WHITE FRUIT CAKE / makes a 5 lb fruit cake

ING 4 c shelled pecans lb ea candied cherries candied pineapple 1 3/4 c flour 1/2 lb butter
cup sugar 5 lg. eggs 1/2 tsp b/powder 1-2 oz vanilla extract 1-2 oz lemon extract

METHOD Chop nuts and fruits into medium-sized pieces; dredge with 1/4 cup of flour. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add well-beaten eggs and blend well. Sift remaining flour and baking powder together; fold into egg and butter mixture. Add vanilla and lemon extracts; mix well. Add fruits and nuts, blending well.

Grease a 10-inch tube pan. Line with foil, parchment, or waxed paper. Grease again. Pour in batter. Place in cold oven; bake 250 deg 3 hours. Or line 2-9x5x3” foil loaf pans, greasing pans and liners well. Place in cold oven; bake 250 degrees 2 hours. Cool in pan on cake rack.

COOKS NOTES: Mr Harvey reportedly liked pecans, so Mrs Harvey loaded up the cake with pecans.
You can use less or none at all. Can sub vanilla or almond for citrus extract if you wish.

[Airwinger]

Best fruitcake I’ve had,,, out of C -Ration,,, LOL

[9422WMR]

“ACTUAL DREID FRUIT,”.
Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana TX has an excellent fruit cake with real dried fruit.
I know not of the dreid stuff you speak of....

[elcid1970]

Didn’t like fruitcake until my late mother in law served us Claxton dark fruitcake soaked in brandy, frozen, then thawed. Wonderful.

[MinuteGal]

"Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana TX has an excellent fruit cake with REAL dried fruit."

You're correct...it IS an excellent and very tasty product.

I order the dark fruitcake for the holidays...and, as an added bonus, I order an extra because the cake freezes beautifully...and it's fun and yummy to enjoy a slice or two in midsummer.

Leni

[RitchieAprile]

>technicolor “fruit”<

Ha!

[Kommodor]

I remember hating fruitcake as a child, likely due to exposure to the cheap, crappy stuff. Had some of the good stuff when I got older, it was quite tasty. Go figure.

But ... the taste of bad fruitcake is a hard one to get over.

[WeWaWes]

My grandmother made Icebox Fruitcake each year during the holidays. I’ve never found her recipe since she passed and none I’ve found on the internet seem to be up to par. Memories.

[wardaddy]

I like fruitcake

Claxton or Corsicana or some boutique overpriced stuff

I like it

With hard sauce or whipping cream

[wardaddy]

Great minds

My exact thought

[wardaddy]

I like these two as well....with hard sauce or brandy butter...God bless us everyone

[uncbob]

Back when she could still bake my wife made excellent fruitcake

I can still remember the taste

[Vinnie]

Had some Claxton fruitcake last night.

[avenir]

Okay, that one actually looks good.