Grandma's Fruitcake Recipe is Here! (2024)

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Grandma’s Fruitcake recipe is so yummy. If you’re looking for an easy way to make this old fashioned marinated fruit bread, this is it!

Grandma's Fruitcake Recipe is Here! (1)

I decided to make Grandma’s fruitcake this year and it’s just like she was in the kitchen with me. At Christmas the dessert tray just isn’t complete without the old fashioned classics like this one. Moist and delicious with great memories on a plate. (affiliate links present)

You could make this into a handheld easy muffin recipe as well. Those will bake faster but with the same flavors that will bring you right back to your childhood just the same.

Easy Fruit Cake Recipe

Sometimes old fashioned means time intensive. That isn’t always true but many times I will agree that many times it is, that is why I appreciate these instructions. I would say the prep is about 15 minutes and then you can just pop it into the oven. Want to make this as gifts? You can double or triple it to share with friends too for sure.

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Fruit Cake Ingredients

You can think about this mixture as a cross between fluffy yellow cake and a pound cake I guess. It is more on the dense side of things because of all the add ins. If you just made the cake by itself though it would be similar to those two. This is what you need:

  1. Container of fruitcake fruit
  2. Pecans are of course optional but traditionally found in every bite
  3. All purpose flour, make sure you know how to measure flour properly
  4. Butter should be softened for best results
  5. Sugar
  6. Eggs are best added when at room temperature if possible
  7. Baking soda
  8. Salt and vanilla

The ingredients and instructions below will make one 9×5″ size loaf pan. If you are batch cooking more than 1 just ensure that each batch is made in a different bowl so an equal amount of batter is added into each pan.

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How to Make Fruit Cake

Just like baking any other type of sweet bread you want to whisk wet ingredients together in one bowl, and dry in another. Then incorporate the two and add the fruit and nuts at the end. You just want to fold those in so they don’t break all apart.

  • You will use a 9×5″ loaf pan for this. Spray inside with non stick spray lightly and shake some flour in while patting it around. It will slide out nicely when done if you do this. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
  • In a bowl whisk sugar, eggs, vanilla together and then add softened butter and whisk until smooth.
  • Use another bowl whisk to together dry ingredients. Then slowly incorporate this into your butter, wet, mixture.
  • Gently fold in marinated fruit and pecans so they are incorporated nicely. Then pour batter into your pan and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes, then loosen slides with a knife and slide out. Set that on your cooling rack to completely cool. Slice and serve.
Grandma's Fruitcake Recipe is Here! (4)

Best Fruit Cake Recipe

If you do choose to make famous fruitcake muffins instead they would need to bake about 20 minutes or so. Use a toothpick inserted and take out right away once it isn’t wet in the middle. If a few crumbs are attached when you pull it out they are perfect. Take them out of the pan and let cool on a cooling rack when you take them out.

We do have a few other things to add to your Christmas brunch items with Grandmas fruitcake. If you’re looking for something new to add to yours here are a few favorites:

  • Our German spice lebkuchen cookies recipe was made by Grandma too. These are a must once a year.
  • Crinkle cookies are yummy and we make them easier as a boxed cake mix recipe.
  • As a side dish goes, this ambrosia recipe is a family favorite too.

Yes we do have proteins as well but mostly finger foods like dry rub air fryer wings and things like that. Everyone just gets to visit with one another and eat throughout the day that way.

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How do you store leftover fruitcake?

We will share the steps below but you need to make sure it is wrapped twice in freezer safe aluminum foil and/or freezer bags to avoid drying out. Wrapped properly it will last a year in the freezer, or 2 months in the fridge. Keep in mind that the first few days it should be left on the countertop to stay moist.

If you make more than one to save one or more loaves for yourself you’ll want to wrap and store them properly. This way it will stay as moist as possible as long as possible. It is already a little bit dry as far as sweet breads go so… First allow each one to cool completely. If you are storing a partial loaf don’t slice what you aren’t eating.

Keeping the whole piece in tact will keep it as moist and tender as possible. Wrap each one separately in plastic wrap. Then either wrap again with foil or put into a gallon freezer bag and suck all the air out of that.

  • Lay them flat in your freezer. Mark the date you baked it on the outside. It will last up to a year stored this way.
  • Allow to come to room temperature on it’s own when you take it out and then enjoy Grandma’s fruitcake one slice at a time.

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Grandma's Fruitcake Recipe is Here! (6)

Grandma's Fruitcake Recipe is Here! (7)

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5 from 1 vote

Grandma’s Fruitcake

Grandma's Fruitcake recipe is so yummy. If you're looking for an easy way to make this old fashioned marinated fruit bread, this is it!

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword easy, fruitcake, grandmas, homemade, simple

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Calories 330kcal

Author The Typical Mom

Ingredients

Instructions

  • You will use one 9×5" loaf pan for this. Spray inside with non stick spray lightly and shake some flour in while patting it around so it slides out nicely when done. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

  • In a bowl whisk sugar, eggs, vanilla together and then add softened butter and whisk until smooth.

  • In another bowl whisk together dry ingredients. Then slowly incorporate this into your butter, wet, mixture.

  • Gently fold in fruit and pecans so it is incorporated nicely. Then pour batter into your pan and bake for 1 hour 10 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

  • Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes, then loosen slides with a knife and slide out. Set that on your cooling rack to completely cool.

  • Slice and serve.

Video

Nutrition Facts

Grandma's Fruitcake

Amount Per Serving (1 oz)

Calories 330Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Trans Fat 1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 2g

Monounsaturated Fat 6g

Cholesterol 61mg20%

Sodium 181mg8%

Potassium 108mg3%

Carbohydrates 46g15%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 30g33%

Protein 4g8%

Vitamin A 299IU6%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 32mg3%

Iron 1mg6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Grandma's Fruitcake Recipe is Here! (2024)

FAQs

Where is Grandma's fruitcake made? ›

Louis, Missouri by two German immigrant brothers. What's the secret to the famous fruitcake recipe? The secret to Grandma's fruitcake is that it is hand-made by our wonderful bakers all year round and then it is mellowed to perfection before being sold to customers to enjoy!

What is the very old fruitcake? ›

A 141-year-old fruitcake, baked by Fidelia Ford, in 1878, sits in the home of Dorothy Ford, in Tec*mseh, Mich. Fidelia died before the cake was served and the family, out of respect of her memory, decided not to eat it and has instead passed it down for generations.

Why was fruitcake outlawed? ›

Fruitcakes were so rich, they were considered sinful and were outlawed in Europe in the early 18th century. Restrictions eased later in the century.

What ingredient in fruitcake makes it last so long? ›

#4: If you want your fruitcake to last even longer, preserve it with alcohol. That's right, adding alcohol to your fruitcake will not only make it taste like your favorite adult beverage, but it will greatly increase the shelf life. Alcohol acts as a food stabilizer to help delay the growth of bacteria.

What city is the fruitcake capital of the world? ›

Claxton is nicknamed the "Fruit Cake Capital of the World" due to the number of fruitcakes that is produced each year. In addition, the city is home to some of the largest beekeeping and poultry industries in the state.

Can you eat 10 year old fruitcake? ›

That said, even though a decades-old fruitcake might taste like a leather shoe, eating it probably won't make you dangerously sick.

Why is fruit cake so expensive? ›

According to supply and demand, as demand goes up, prices usually go up as well. The rest of the year, very few people are buying fruitcake, and as a result they lower the prices to entice people to buy it outside of their regular patterns.

Is fruit cake edible after 100 years? ›

The chemical composition of the cake makes it possible to keep it for a 100 years. Indeed, its density prevents bacteria and mold to proliferate and its alcohol content makes it more sanitized, which also has an impact on its conservation.

Why does fruitcake have such a bad reputation? ›

When commercial mass production of mail order fruitcakes resulted in dry bricks being delivered to people's homes as a last-minute Christmas gift. When Johnny Carson made his infamous joke on "The Tonight Show"about how there's only one fruitcake in the world and it's passed from family to family.

Why is fruitcake eaten at Christmas? ›

It is believed that one of the main reasons why fruit cake became associated with the holidays was that during the 18th and 19th century the cost of the ingredients was too expensive for most households to afford. Considered an indulgence, fruit cake was thus reserved for special occasions and holidays.

What is the derogatory meaning of fruitcake? ›

Slang. a crazy or eccentric person; nut.

Should fruitcake be refrigerated? ›

For best quality, a fruit cake that is tightly wrapped with aluminum foil or saran warp can be stored for up to 1 month in a cool, dark pantry, 6 months in the refrigerator, and 12 months in a freezer. Check often for signs of spoilage, and if mold or off-odors develop, discard the cake.

Why do you soak fruitcake in alcohol? ›

Here are some tips to help you make a moist fruit cake: Ingredients: Fruits:Use a variety of dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas, currants, chopped dates, and candied peel. Soak the dried fruits in a liquid (like alcohol or fruit juice) overnight to plump them up and infuse flavor.

How long should you age fruitcake? ›

The most common duration to properly age a fruitcake is about three months. Any quicker will limit the development of complex flavors attributed to the maturing process. You can certainly age your cake for much longer than several months if you'd like, but we know how busy everyday life can be.

What fruitcake is made by monks in California? ›

Assumption Abbey Fruitcakes are dark, rich, and moist. They are baked slowly and aged under the careful supervision of the monks. Everything, from marinating the fruit, to mixing, to baking, packaging, aging, and mailing is done right at the monastery by the monks.

Where do they make Claxton Fruitcakes? ›

The Claxton Bakery
Company typePrivate
FounderSavino Gillio-Tos
HeadquartersClaxton, Georgia , United States
Productsfruitcakes
Websitewww.claxtonfruitcake.com
2 more rows

What country is fruit cake from? ›

You may know that fruitcake has roots in England, but that's not where it originated. It has been around since ancient Roman times, where it was made of a mix of pine nuts, barley mash, pomegranate seeds, raisins, and honeyed wine.

Where is my grandmas coffee cake made? ›

Founded in 1990, My Grandma's of New England ® is known as the “World's Most Critically Acclaimed Coffee Cake”. Located at 1636 Hyde Park Avenue in Boston, Massachusetts, My Grandma's manufactures the original (and the best) Cinnamon Walnut Coffee Cake.

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