Fruit cake. The fruit cake is a heavy cake laden with dried fruit and nuts, and redolent with sweet spices, with origins that date back to the Ancient Egyptians and the Ancient Greeks. In the Middle East, dates, and various types of nuts might have packed such a cake.
What is a fruitcake?
Fruitcake—that dense amalgam of fruits, nuts and just enough rich cake to hold them together—is one of the heaviest baked goods out there. It’s also one of the few baked goods that can benefit from aging…provided it’s done right.
What is fruit cake made of?
These cakes usually have apple sauce, raisins, and nuts, and are not quite as heavy and excessively spiced as the infamous one. Once you feel comfortable moving up in the fruit cake world, you can try making the real deal.
Is a fruit cake worth a try?
There is a whole world of fruit cakes out there worth a try. And they do not always have disturbingly bright green pieces of ‘fruit’ in them. ‘The traditional fruit cake is made weeks in advance, and fed a little bourbon each day.’ This makes a traditional, super rich, dense cake that requires quite a bit of effort and time.
What is the difference between fruitcake and Früchtebrot?
In Southern Germany and the Alpine region, Früchtebrot is a sweet, dark bread baked with nuts and dried fruit, e.g. apricots, figs, dates, plums. Fruitcake is a rich dense cake packed with dry fruits and nuts flavoured with spices usually made during Christmas.
What is a fruit cake?
Fruitcake (or fruit cake or fruit bread) is a cake made with candied or dried fruit, nuts, and spices, and optionally soaked in spirits.
Fruitcake.
| A traditional English fruitcake | |
|---|---|
| Type | Cake |
| Created by | Originally from Roman times |
| Main ingredients | Candied fruit and/or dried fruit, nuts, spices, sugars, flour |
What does fruit cake contain?
The current formulation contains a whopping 70% dried fruit and nuts: papayas, raisins, pineapple, cherries, pecans and English walnuts. These ingredients are bound together by a buttery-rich batter and baked to form a rich, dark cake.
What liquor is in fruitcake?
Evenly pour 1.5 – 2 ounces of your favorite bourbon, rum, brandy, or cognac, over the fruitcake. For a quick way to measure, use a standard-sized shot glass. Take care to pour slowly, allowing the liquor to absorb into the cake with minimal runoff.
What is a fruit cake insult?
Word forms: fruitcakes
If you refer to someone as a fruitcake, you mean that they are crazy or that their behavior is very strange.
What’s another name for fruit cake?
In this page you can discover 8 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for fruitcake, like: crackpot, crank, nut, nut-case, screwball, chocolate-cake, chocolate-mousse and sauerkraut.
What is the fruit in fruit cake called?
Candied citron is made from the thick peel of the citrus fruit of the same name. The fruit looks like a large, lumpy lemon and has a thick peel and relatively little pulp or juice. It’s one of the four ancient citrus fruits, being grown for over 3000 years.
Can you get drunk on fruit cake?
Even if you drench the cake with the stuff after cooking, the alcohol evaporates quite quickly, so don’t expect to get drunk on your fruitcake unless you pour a glass or three to drink while you are indulging in the sweet treat.
What country is fruit cake from?
Fruitcake has been around since ancient Roman times. 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.
What is the green stuff in fruit cake?
Paradise Green Candied Cherries–also known as Glace Green Cherries–have been a part of candied fruit recipes for generations. Green candied cherries are sweet and chewy, and complement red candied cherries in a variety of recipes, making for a more colorful and tasty baked treat.
What can I use instead of alcohol in a fruit cake?
If you do not want to use alcohol then fresh orange juice is an alternative, though you should leave the fruits in orange juice to soak overnight in the fridge once they have cooled.
What do you soak fruitcake in?
Aging a Fruitcake
You can either soak cheesecloth in brandy, bourbon, whiskey, rum or other liquor and then wrap it around the cooked, cooled fruitcake before wrapping in plastic wrap and storing, or simply brush the cake with an alcohol of your choice and wrap tightly.
How long does fruitcake last with alcohol?
As a USDA Guide describes, ‘The luxurious fruitcake, studded with dried fruits and steeped in rum or brandy, is a present-day descendant. The liquor retards mold, and there are cases of well-tinned and brandied cakes lasting 20 years!’
Why do they call people fruit cakes?
Fruitcakes, which are cakes containing both fruit and nuts, have been in existence since the Middle Ages, but it is unclear when the term started being used disparagingly, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States, as a slur for a ‘crazy person’ (e.g., ‘he’s a complete fruitcake’) although Cassell’s
Why does fruit cake mean crazy?
Fruitcake is something like the word faggot’s first cousin. To be nuts was to be mentally ill, after all, and queerness was, for a time, a flavor of mental illness. The common history of the moniker goes as follows: A fruit, susceptible to the whims of nature, tends to grow tender and soft.
What does fruity mean TikTok?
On TikTok, Fruity is a term used to describe someone who belongs to the LGBTQ+ community. It’s not actually a new term either, and some might actually find it to be offensive, but it’s currently being reclaimed by the Gay TikTok subculture.
What is fruitcake and what is it made of?
Traditional fruitcakes are made with candied dried fruits and nuts, although the combination of fruits and nuts is almost entirely up to the baker. There are a few fruitcake essentials that you can expect though. You can reasonably expect to find candied cherries and pecans in your fruitcake.
How do you make homemade fruit cake?
What does fruit cake taste like?
“Mass-produced fruitcakes, the kind that most people are exposed to during the holidays, are nothing like what a fruitcake should be. A fruitcake should be rich, it should taste like dried fruit and spices and alcohol. It should have a moist texture — it’s not supposed to be dry and crusty.
What does it mean to be a fruit cake?
fruitcake a fruitcake is someone that is either homosexual or acts oddly on a daily basis Nick, you are a fruitcake. You jump around all day like a tard. by Ian Gamble September 19, 2005 Flag Get a fruitcake mug for your cat Riley. fruitcake 1. n a dessert; a rich cake consisting of dried fruit and nuts 2. n a homosexual man, or one who seems to be
What is Fruit Cake? (with pictures)
Tricia Christensen is an American actress and singer.Date: 10th of February, 2022 The fruit cake is a dense cake that is densely packed with dried fruit and nuts and scented with sweet spices.Its origins may be traced back to the Ancient Egyptians and the Ancient Greeks, among other cultures.In the Middle East, dates and different sorts of nuts may have been used to make a cake of this nature.Pomegranates are said to have been the primary fruit in Greece.
- Despite the fact that most people nowadays have access to fresh fruit during the winter months, the fruit cake remains a popular winter treat.
- When it is manufactured commercially, it is frequently more colorful than when it is made at home since it is typically packed with candied fruits rather than simply dried fruits.
- There are those who do not care for this cake; in fact, one firm offers these cakes as door stoppers.
- The quality of the ingredients may make a significant difference in how well a cake is received.
- Many people are wary of modern fruit cakes since the candied fruit and citron tend to have a harsh flavor, which makes them seem unappealing.
Simply substituting dried fruit for the fresh fruit will result in a cake that appears more natural in its appearance.Others avoid it because it is frequently drenched in alcohol, which they find offensive.It is really quite fine to use apple juice for the water, as this will make the cake non-alcoholic and child friendly at the same time.
When sliced into tiny pieces, fruit cake has the appearance of almost being a candy.It is quite dense, and big servings will almost probably contain a substantial amount of nuts and fruit.It is served in thin slices and is somewhat similar to the Italian torrone, which can be described as a cake or nougat filled with nuts and fruit and typically served in thin slices.While it is possible to purchase fruit cake in large quantities online, making fruit cake at home is not difficult.
Since the fruit provides ample sweetness, the cake recipe is often similar to that of a pound cake, although with less sugar than that.It can be baked in a loaf pan or a bunt pan depending on your preference.Fruit cake in the form of a loaf is typically easier to keep.Desserts such as fruit cake should be prepared three to four weeks before they are to be served or given as gifts.
Chefs recommend keeping the cake in the refrigerator if you are using apple juice instead of alcohol to avoid the cake from warping.It is acceptable to store an alcoholic cake outside, but it should be wrapped in cheesecloth or many layers of waxed paper and aluminum foil to prevent it from becoming moist.Tricia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Sonoma State University and has been a regular contributor to this site for many years.She is particularly enthusiastic about reading and writing, while she has a wide range of interests that include medicine, art, movies, history, politics, ethics, and religion, among others.Tricia presently resides in Northern California, where she is hard at work on her debut novel.Tricia Christensen is an American actress and singer.
Tricia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Sonoma State University and has been a regular contributor to this site for many years.She is particularly enthusiastic about reading and writing, while she has a wide range of interests that include medicine, art, movies, history, politics, ethics, and religion, among others.Tricia presently resides in Northern California, where she is hard at work on her debut novel.
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What Is Fruitcake? The Origin of an Enduring Holiday Tradition
Many people enjoy making fun of this apparently resilient Christmas tradition, but what exactly is fruitcake? What was the source of the fruitcake? Nothing but positive feedback has been received. ″There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and it is constantly being passed around by people.″ – The late, great Johnny Carson
What Is Fruitcake?
We’ve all heard the jokes about how dense fruitcake is, or how long it lasts when stored properly.Those who oppose the product would have you think that it’s as hefty as a doorstop and designed to be passed down through generations, receiving a yearly baptism of booze every Christmas before being stored until the next year.For the record, there is more than a grain of truth to this statement as well.When it comes to baked delicacies, fruitcake (that thick combination of fruits, nuts, and just enough rich cake to keep them together) is one of the heaviest options available.Besides that, it’s one of the few baked goods that can benefit from being aged…provided that it’s done correctly.
- The fact remains, though, that enough people enjoy—and consume—fruitcake to make it a $100 million-per-year company at the end of the day (or, more properly, at the end of the year).
- And the cake’s fabled longevity is not restricted to the cake itself: fruitcake has a long and illustrious history, having existed in some form or another since the Roman era.
The Origin of Fruitcake: The Original Energy Bar
It was the ancient Romans who invented a type of energy bar called satura, which was made from ingredients such as pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, raisins and barley mash mixed with honeyed wine to keep their troops going during battle.After a while, it gained popularity as a dessert for special occasions because it was filled with calories in the form of nutritious carbohydrates and good fats, and because it lasted long enough to provide energy to soldiers throughout a long, tiring war.During the Crusades, Christian warriors ate a type of fruitcake that was quite similar to this.During the Middle Ages, dried fruits became more readily available to western Europeans, and a variety of fruitcakes arose, including Italy’s panforte and panettone, Germany’s powdered sugar-coated stollen, and the United Kingdom’s plum pudding.The British version of the dish began as ″plum porridge,″ which was more liquid than solid and was not sweet at all.
- It contained a variety of preserved fruits, as well as meat, wine, sherry, fruit juices, sugar, and other ingredients during Shakespeare’s time.
- It became popular as ″plum pudding″ because it was made without the use of meat, with more fruit and baked instead of being served cold (more a plum cake than what Americans would know as a pudding).
- In the Christmas song ″We Wish You a Merry Christmas,″ in which the carolers beseech, ″Now bring us some figgy pudding,″ it was this form that became well-known.
- Originally written in the nineteenth century, it was the tradition of English aristocracy in Victorian England to provide a slice of this pudding to the impoverished carolers, which is presumably how the Christmas fruitcake became so closely associated with the holiday season.
- It was the colonists who introduced the practice to America in the years leading up to the Revolution, and by the late 1800s, fruitcake was being given out in beautifully adorned tins.
As of today, The Swiss Colony (America’s biggest hand-decorating baker) creates more than 66,000 fruitcakes every year in its Monroe, Wisconsin, bakery, weighing almost 110,000 pounds, and sends them around the country in its own colorful tins.
What Is Christmas Fruitcake?
During the years leading up to the American Revolution, the colonists imported the Christmas fruitcake custom to the United States, and by the late 1800s, the fruitcake was being given out in festively adorned tins.To this day, The Swiss Colony (America’s biggest hand-decorating baker) creates more than 66,000 fruitcakes every year in its Monroe, Wisconsin, bakery, weighing almost 110,000 pounds, and sends the Christmas cakes throughout the United States in its own colorful tins.
How Fruitcake Is Made
It has been making fruitcakes since the early 1960s, and the Swiss Colony has worked tirelessly to improve the recipe over the years, resulting in a cake that is the perfect combination of density, moistness, and taste.At the moment, the current formulation contains a whopping 70% dried fruit and nuts, including papayas and raisins as well as pineapple and cherries, as well as pecans and English walnuts.These components are held together by a buttery-rich batter, which is then baked to make a rich, dark cake when done.On top, a pattern of more dried fruits and fancy-grade pecan halves is delicately hand-arranged in a beautiful pattern.It is then finished with a sugar glaze that is hand-brushed on by hand and baked in tiny quantities in copper kettles to solidify the pattern and give it that last sparkling sheen.
- Despite the fact that they are mass-produced, the fruitcakes are crafted with high-quality ingredients and with an exceptionally personal touch.
The Care and Feeding of Fruitcake
Wait…what?Is this a cake or a pet you’re looking at?For many individuals, the holiday fruitcake is a living tradition that requires regular maintenance, and they order it far enough in advance to accommodate for the natural aging process that occurs.It may seem strange to age a food product, but it is done for a variety of reasons, including wine and cheese…and, under strictly controlled conditions, beef.Okay, so perhaps aging food isn’t such a strange concept after all.
- But what about baked goods?
- In this particular instance, absolutely.
- All of that fruit includes molecules known as tannins, which, in addition to being beneficial to your health, also have a mild natural bitterness that lessens with age and may be consumed raw or cooked.
- In fact, this is one of the reasons why red wines are aged: the tannins found in the grape skins become more mellow with age.
- In any case, most fruitcake connoisseurs would never consider serving a fruitcake that hasn’t been matured for at least a month.
Don’t feel as if you have to age your fruitcake any more than you have to.If you buy a fruitcake, it will be wonderfully delightful to eat right out of the packaging because it has been quietly ripening in the refrigerator for a long time before shipment (sealed, of course, to stay moist).However, many people prefer to moisten it even more by adding an ingredient that most producers do not include: alcohol.
Fruitcakes have traditionally contained brandy, whiskey, or rum, which has been a time-honored ingredient for hundreds of years.We skip this step out of consideration for individual preferences and sensitivities, and instead use rum flavoring to bring the dish back to its originality and authenticity.However, anyone who purchases a fruitcake may easily ″feed″ it by following this easy procedure:
- Make holes in the top and bottom of your fruitcake with a clean wooden skewer. Make sure to pierce the fruitcake several times to allow the liquid to seep down to the bottom of the cake.
- Drizzle 1–2 teaspoons of rum, brandy, or whiskey over the fruitcake in a slow, steady stream. In order to add even more spice and orange flavor, spiced rum or Grand Marnier can be used instead of the regular rum.
- Ensure that your fruitcake is firmly wrapped in baking paper or aluminum foil, and that it is stored in a cold, dry location.
- Repeat this process every two weeks for two or three months, depending on your schedule. Always remember to use a clean skewer to avoid introducing bacteria into the food.
A well prepared fruitcake may survive months or even years if stored in a cold, dry environment, but we recommend savoring the rewards of your labors over the holidays and purchasing a fresh one the following year.
WTF Is Fruitcake and Why Does My Grandma Love It So Much?
Fruit cake, how I love thee.The Christmas classic that is the subject of the most jokes, is the most despised, and is the most misunderstood of all time.The scent of a month-old, bourbon-soaked fruit cake is the smell of the holidays to just a few people.However, for the majority of people, that same fragrance indicates a time when a custom should be put an end to.In order to get to the bottom of this societally divisive debate, I chose to consult my grandmother (Nana), who happens to be the world’s biggest admirer of fruit cake.
- I usually bake Nana a fruitcake for Christmas, which may explain why I always seem to get the most thoughtful gifts.
- I had little regard for this cake until I discovered that my grandmother (who is well-versed in baking) adores it.
- I accepted her judgment and prepared a fruitcake for myself, and I’ve since become one of the world’s few fruitcake devotees.
″Fruit cake is. can I say Nirvana?″
Fruit cake, in the opinion of Nana, is the most flavorful, festive, and indulgent treat that exists.A Christmas tradition, and there’s a good reason why it’s still going strong today.Although the origins of this cake can be traced back to the Middle Ages, it has since made its way through the bakeries of Europe, and all the way to the backs of Christmas potluck tables in America.The advent of the dreaded mail-order fruitcakes, which first appeared in 1913, is most likely what tarnished the image of this cake.Suddenly, this decadent, time-consuming treat was transformed into the laziest Christmas gift you could possibly give.
- In a short period of time, it had become, and remained, the laughing stock of the season.
- But hold off on turning your nose up just yet.
- In terms of fruit cakes, there is a whole universe out there that is worth exploring.
- And they don’t necessarily contain horrifyingly bright green chunks of ″fruit″ that are hard to look at.
″The traditional fruit cake is made weeks in advance, and fed a little bourbon each day.″
This results in a traditional, super rich, dense cake that takes a significant amount of effort and time to prepare.According to Nana, it’s ″not exactly a light piece of cake,″ and it’s definitely not the greatest location for novice fruit cake bakers to begin their journey.Make your own fruit cake, she suggests, if you’re tasting it for the first time this holiday season.Start with a lighter, more straightforward fruit cake, such as this one.They often contain apple sauce, raisins, and nuts and are not quite as heavy or heavily spiced as the iconic cake.
- However, they do contain raisins and nuts.
- Once you’ve gained confidence in your ability to advance in the fruit cake world, you can attempt to make the actual thing.
- Besides candied pineapple and cherries (the citron can be ″chewy and perplexing″), Nana advises raisins and currants as well as raisins and currants.
- Season with a generous amount of spices and whiskey, and don’t forget the nuts.
- James E.
Petts’s photostream on Flickr The final product will be rewarding, authentic, and well worth the time and effort you have put in to create it.No one at your holiday party should be able to tell you they don’t like fruit cake until they’ve tried YOUR fruit cake.Finally, this Christmas tradition is being given the recognition it deserves.
What to Substitute for Citron in Fruitcakes
Please feel sorry for the unfortunate fruitcake.Every year, it seems like everyone receives a piece of the same fruitcake, which then gets put on the shelf until the following holiday season rolls along.Bricks, paperweights, and doorstops are all terms used to describe these unfortunate objects.The majority of people either adore it or despise it.Don’t point the finger at the fruitcake; instead, point the finger at the recipe.
- Give fruitcake another opportunity; there are several varieties and recipes to pick from.
What Is Fruitcake?
- Fruitcakes have been making their way throughout the world for hundreds of years. On the whole, fruitcakes can contain any or all of the following ingredients: candied fruit, dried fruit, fruit rind, nuts and spices as well as any form of liquor or brandy. The proportion of fruit and nuts to cake batter is rather high, with only a small amount of cake batter remaining to keep everything together. It is inevitable that this will result in an extremely dense, moist, and heavy cake, which is no doubt what gave origin to the doorstop allusion. There are two fundamental types: This sort of fruitcake is produced with components that are light in color, such as granulated sugar and light corn syrup. Other ingredients include almonds, golden raisins, pineapple, apricots, and other fruits.
- Dark Fruitcake: Darker-colored ingredients such as molasses and brown sugar, as well as darker-colored fruits such as raisins, prunes, dates, cherries, pecans, and walnuts, are used in this recipe.
The Dreaded Citron: What Is It?
Some people do not like fruitcake, and they usually blame it on the candied citron or other fruits that are used in the cake.Candy citron (also known as candied orange) is prepared from the thick peel of the citrus fruit of the same name.The fruit has the appearance of a large, lumpy lemon, with a thick peel and only a small amount of pulp or juice inside.It is one of the four ancient citrus fruits, having been in cultivation for more than 3000 years.Citron oil was utilized in the production of perfume.
- Currently, citron fruit is used to manufacture candied citron peel, and it is also utilized economically as a source of pectin, which is a soluble fiber that is found in citrus fruits.
- The candied peel that is used in fruitcake is brined and fermented for many weeks before being desalted, boiled, and then candied in a sugar solution before being utilized in the cake.
- After that, it is dried and marketed for use as an ingredient in baked products such as fruitcake and plum pudding, as well as various confections and candies.
Substitutes for Citron in Fruitcake
In your fruitcake, you are not required to use citron or any other citrus fruit.If you wish, you may use any candied fruit of your choice; many varieties are easily available in the baking area of your local supermarket.Alternatively, if you want to prepare your own candied fruit, you can do so.Consider fruits such as pineapple, cherry, orange rind, and lemon rind.A thick syrup is used to coat pieces of fruit, which are then dried after being dipped or cooked in it.
- Following the drying process, they are frequently coated with granulated sugar.
- When it comes to fruitcake, if you don’t care for candied fruits or peels, you might try replacing plain dried fruit pieces instead.
- At your local grocery shop, you may discover a variety of dried fruits such as raisins, currants, apricots and peaches.
- You can also get dried fruits such as bananas, mangoes and papaya.
The Interesting History Of Fruitcake
In your fruitcake, you are not required to use citron.To make this recipe, you may use any candied fruit of your choice; many varieties are easily accessible in the baking area of your local supermarket.It is possible to produce your own candied fruit if you choose.Consider the flavors of pineapple, cherry, orange rind, and lemon rind.- It is created by dipping or boiling pieces of fruit in a thick syrup and then drying them once they have dried.
- Following the drying process, they are frequently rolled in granulated sugar.
- You can use ordinary dried fruit pieces in place of candied fruits or peels if you don’t care for candied fruits or peels in your fruitcake.
- A variety of dried fruits are available at your local grocery store, including raisins, currants, apricots, peaches, bananas, mangos, papaya, and many others.
Candied Green Cherries
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Product Description
Glace Green Cherries, also known as Paradise Green Candied Cherries, have been a staple of candied fruit dishes for many years.Unlike red candied cherries, green candied cherries are sweet and chewy, and they pair well with red candied cherries in a number of recipes, resulting in a more colorful and delicious baked delicacy.Green cherries may be used to enhance the color and flavor of a seasonal Christmas fruitcake for family and friends, or candied cherry chocolate chip cookies can be made to stand out at the next potluck gathering.Using these sweet treats, we have a number of delicious and simple recipes to share with you.Here are a few examples: Among the desserts you’ll find: Cherry Brownies, Cherry-Citron Cake, Cherry Pineapple Cake, Fruit Cake, Oatmeal Cherry Pineapple Cookies, Reindeer Ornament Cookies, Cherry-Chocolate Bars, Cherry-Pineapple Crispies, and an Advent Calendar Tree.
- CLICK HERE for more candied recipe inspiration from our kitchen-tested and chef-inspired collection.
- They are available whole or half, and they are packaged in an eco-friendly plastic container with recipes and an useful redeemable voucher attached for your convenience.
- Paradise Candied Green Cherries are fat-free and gluten-free, making them a healthy snack option.
- Find a supermarket or specialty shop near you that carries Paradise candied fruit goods using our store locator, or go to Amazon.com and place an order directly from the website.
- Register here to receive monthly recipes and baking tips from the award-winning chefs at Paradise, as well as to be added to our email list.
Whole Green Cherries
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Ingredients
Cherries, Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Benzoate and Potassium Sorbate (preservatives), FD&C Yellow 5 and Blue 1 (colors), Sulfur Dioxide, FD&C Yellow 5 and Blue 1 (colors), FD&C Yellow 5 and Blue 1 (colors), Sulfur Dioxide (preservative). Information on the shelf life
Full question
Even if I don’t soak the fruits in alcohol before baking the Christmas Cake, would it still be good for a couple of months?They taste better to me without the brandy flavor.In addition, I do not enjoy the taste of components such as candied peel, prunes, or dates in my baked goods.What if the recipe already contains these ingredients?Can I simply add extra raisins, sultanas, and cherries to make up for it?
Traditional Christmas Cake
Our answer
This Traditional Christmas Cake recipe (adapted from Nigella Christmas) calls for warming the dried fruits in alcohol before allowing them to soak for an entire night in the refrigerator.It is necessary to soak the dried fruits overnight in order for them to rehydrate and become plump and soft; otherwise, the cake will be a little dry.Cake ingredients such as cherries and candied peel do not require soaking and can be added to the cake batter after it has been combined, skipping the soaking stage altogether.If you do not wish to use alcohol, fresh orange juice can be substituted; however, you need allow the fruits to soak in the orange juice overnight in the refrigerator once they have cooled.It is recommended that you do not make the cake more than one month before you intend to eat it because it will not keep as well as one that is made and then fed with alcohol.
- If you need to create the cake ahead of time, it is preferable to wrap it securely in a double layer of clingfilm (plastic wrap) and a layer of aluminum foil and place it in the freezer until you need it.
- Thaw the cake in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature.
- Depending on the recipe, other dried fruits such as raisins and sultanas can be substituted for the prunes; however, this is dependent on the quantity of prunes used as well as the other ingredients in the cake.
- We do not advocate swapping prunes for other dried fruits in Nigella’s Chocolate Fruit Cake since the cake will not turn out as well.
How Long Will That Fruitcake Last?
A joke about fruitcakes was once told by Johnny Carson, who stated that ″there is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.″ And, while it’s only a joke, knowing how long a well prepared and stored fruitcake can last, it’s virtually a certainty.As a result of the alcohol that is added to the cake to allow it to age and maintain its shape, it may be stored or regifted for years.
Aging a Fruitcake
When producing a fruitcake, there are three processes involved: the actual baking, the aging process, and finally the right storage.Because the age process for a proper fruitcake takes between one and three months, a fruitcake should be prepared well in advance because it will need to be left out for an extended period of time.After the fruitcake has been baked, it is time to apply the preservative treatment to the completed product.In order to store the fruitcake, you can either soak cheesecloth in brandy or other liquor and wrap it over the cooked and cooled fruitcake before wrapping it in plastic wrap and storing it, or you can just spray the cake with an alcohol of your choosing and wrap it firmly before freezing.Fruitcake should be carefully wrapped and stored in a cool, dry location while it is maturing in the refrigerator.
- If you covered your cake in saturated cheesecloth, resoak the cloth each a week and let it to mature for six weeks to three months at room temperature.
- A fresh coat of alcohol should be applied every few days for the first two months to cakes that have been simply covered in plastic wrap.
Storing a Fruitcake
Once a fruitcake has been allowed to mature, it can be consumed or given as a gift.Otherwise, store it in a tightly wrapped container in the fridge.The fruitcakes may be kept for months or even years if you keep adding additional brandy to the mix on a regular basis.Because alcohol kills germs, it has the effect of slowing the spoiling process.Some fruitcake enthusiasts will not even touch a fruitcake until it has been aged for at least three years, despite the fact that it is generally recommended that soaked fruitcake be consumed within a year of being soaked.
- If you’re apprehensive about consuming food that old or didn’t prepare ahead of time, a cake that has been aged for six or seven weeks will be perfectly safe to consume while still tasting excellent.
- Fruitcakes are among the types of cakes that freeze well, but they must be aged for at least four weeks before freezing since the alcohol does not mellow when the cake is stored in the freezer.
- Surprisingly, the shelf life of the fruitcake is significantly less if it is frozen rather than refrigerated.
- Within one year, you must consume a frozen fruitcake.
- Make the frosting just before serving if you are frosting the cake.
Alcohol-Free Fruitcake
- To appeal to a different or younger audience, some fruitcakes are made without the inclusion of alcohol. These cakes might be dry and rock hard at times, but if you are the beneficiary of an alcohol-free cake, don’t despair
- you can bring it back to life. Simply take these straightforward steps: Make several holes in all sides of the cake with a skewer, pushing the skewer all the way through to the opposite side of the cake.
- In a large pot, combine 1/2 cup alcoholic beverage (such as brandy, cognac, or rum) with a pinch of orange zest. Placing the cake on top and heating until the wine is simmering is recommended.
- Seal tightly and steam for a few minutes, spooning the sauce all over the cake during this time. Continue to cover the pan with a lid and then spoon in the sauce until the majority of the alcohol has been absorbed
- After removing the cake from the heat, cover it with plastic wrap and let it aside for five minutes. Place the cake on a platter to cool before cutting and serving
Fruitcakes made without the use of alcohol should be consumed within a few days of baking, or they can be frozen for up to six months if kept properly wrapped.
How Long Can You Keep Fruitcake? In This Case 106 Years
Although the 106-year-old fruitcake recently discovered on Cape Adare in Antarctica appears to be edible, I will decline to sample it even if afforded the opportunity.As far as how long I will keep food in my refrigerator or freezer before throwing it out, I tend to draw the line somewhere around the 100-year mark.Members of the Antarctic Heritage Trust discovered the fruitcake in a cabin inside a decaying container, which had been wrapped in paper before being discovered.However, although the fruitcake did not have a date on it, they believed it had been left at the South Pole by explorer Robert Falcon Scott’s team during their Terra Nova expedition in 1911 to reach the South Pole.According to Trust Program Manager Lizzie Meeks, as reported by Mike Moffitt for SFGATE, ″There was a very, very tiny rancid butter smell to it, but other than that, the cake looked and smelled good.″ Yes, I’m hungry, but not in the way you may think.
- Here’s an article from Time magazine about fruitcake (but not about the fruitcake): In the average case, how long can you store a fruit cake, given that it is not going to be 100 years?
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends storing fresh produce for up to one month in the pantry, up to six months refrigerated, and up to a year frozen.
- The United States Department of Agriculture does not specify how long fruitcake may be stored in an Antarctica cabin.
- For dried fruit, the statistics are similar: up to 1 month in the pantry, up to 6 months refrigerated, depending on the variety.
- Key variables include how dry the fruit cake actually is and whether you contaminated the meal with your dirty, dirty hands or any other filthy parts of your body while preparing it.
Because many germs require moisture in order to multiply, a damp fruitcake will most likely become unsafe to consume much sooner.Additionally, fruitcakes that have been initially covered or soaked in alcohol will last longer than fruitcakes that have not been covered or soaked.According to the USDA’s Guide, ″The opulent fruitcake, studded with dried fruits and soaked in rum or brandy, is a modern-day successor of the traditional fruitcake.
Mold is retarded by the liquor, and there have been reports of cakes that have been well-tinned and brandied lasting 20 years!″ As a result, fruitcakes may be able to live pretty well and continue to exist with Keith Richards long after everything else has vanished in the aftermath of the apocalypse.Another consideration is whether or not it will continue to taste good.You may also argue that fruitcakes never taste good if you aren’t a lover of the sweet treat in the first place.Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn to stay up to date.
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How—and Why—Did Fruitcake Become a Slur?
Marie Rudisill began her television career at the ripe old age of 89, when she was still considered young.A woman with prominent cheekbones and hair the color of dried coconut peel, she possessed a stately demeanor.It was in December of 2000 when Rudisill made her first appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, where she was promoting a book of traditional family fruitcake recipes that she had published the previous year.In fact, Leno thought her to be so endearing that he called her back into the program on a number of occasions to conduct her own culinary segment.He dubbed her the ″Fruitcake Lady″ after the fruitcakes she made for him.
- Rudisill was the perfect poster girl for the fruitcake, and Leno (and, by extension, America) had discovered her in the process.
- Here was a dish that had been so unfairly dismissed by the culinary establishment in the United States that its only plausible defender might be a reedy, craggy eighty-year-old.
- Rudisill was a joke, much like the fruitcake she represented: she was scarcely deserving of being taken seriously, yet she managed to stay alive through sheer willpower.
- Rudisill’s appearance on television did not, however, mark the beginning of the widespread perception of fruitcake as a food to be avoided at all costs.
- Those calcifications had taken place long before Rudisill appeared on Leno’s show, dating back to the 1930s in the United States.
It wasn’t just her who was affected.For decades, most Americans have despised these plump, sodden mounds of dough, which are filled with red and green glacé cherries, laced with spices and rum, and topped with thinly sliced almonds.However, this is not the case for everyone.
Perhaps it is not a coincidence that Rudisill, the crotchety patron saint of the fruitcake, is linked to one of the most renowned American homosexual men of all time, the late actor and activist John Waters.She was Truman Capote’s aunt, hence she was related to him.With her effeminate and limp-wristed demeanor, Capote may be regarded an excellent target for the term fruitcake in its second, equally toxic connotation.Since 1935, the phrase ″nutty as a fruitcake″ has been ingrained in the lexicon of everyday American speech and expression.
Fruitcake is sort of like the word faggot’s first cousin in terms of pronunciation.After all, to be insane was to be mentally ill, and queerness was, for a time, a subset of the mental disease continuum.The following is the commonly accepted history of the moniker: A fruit that is subject to the vagaries of nature is more likely to become fragile and mushy.A man’s embodiment of these particular characteristics, such as an awareness of and sensitivity to the components that are generally labeled as female, goes against the ideals of masculinity that our culture holds dear.
For some reason, this game of word association is quite entertaining; it’s similar to browsing through an old thesaurus from an earlier, much dirtier America.Motivated by deep personal interest, I began attempting to identify the specific channels via which this meal came to be seen as a delicacy a few months ago.I had grown up eating fruitcake and considered it to be a delicacy.My ancestors hail from the Indian state of West Bengal, where fruitcake is usually regarded as a delectable treat rather than a dish to be thrown away.My family and I used to like eating the architecturally stodgy, pre-packaged type that so many Americans seem to despise with our afternoon cup of tea.The cakes from Entenmann’s or Carvel were available to other families; nevertheless, we liked the tutti frutti cakes that came in rectangular metal wrapping.
We’d even have it for breakfast if we could.It was out of season, having been displaced from Christmas.If it were nutritionally healthy or socially acceptable to do so, we’d eat it at every meal, every day.On occasion, I reflect on this part of my youth and question whether I was simply a Bengali guy living in a Bengali bubble.In my early years, I was raised by two Bengali parents who taught me to eat Bengali food and speak in their native language, instilling in me a distinctly Bengali way of seeing the world.
- As a result, I was prevented from fully internalizing the tastes and rhythms of white America as a result of my isolation.
- I recall receiving an English-language coloring book from a relative in West Bengal that advised me to color Bugs Bunny in the color ‘gay,’ which is an innocent synonym for ‘jolly.’ I followed the instructions.
- My understanding of what the word gay meant to the majority of Americans was non-existent, let alone the fact that it referred to any form of sexuality at all, let alone a form of sexuality that was regarded as a continuation of madness.
- Those were my first impressions of the American English language when I first arrived in the country.
- Although these two uses for the term fruitcake may appear disjointed at first glance, constructing a connection line between them may appear to be a vain attempt to find meaning in a place where it just does not exist.
- Besides, my Bengali and LGBTQ selves don’t seem to have anything in common when it comes to their identities.
- However, when I contemplate the very horrible connotations that this phrase elicits in the minds of so many people, I find myself motivated to defend fruitcake.
- Defending myself forces me to bring these two aspects of my personality together.
- Fruitcake is the edible manifestation of my queer, Bengali self, if there ever was one.
- My father was born in the city of Kolkata, which was later anglicized as Calcutta, in the year 1947, three years after India gained independence from the British Empire.
- The fact that he dabbled in some healthy college Marxism did not make him any less bourgeois than he would like to admit.
He was heavily influenced by the traditions of British India that he learned as a result of his severe boarding school upbringing.Despite his efforts, he couldn’t get rid of certain British behaviors since he like them.One of these was a preference for fruitcake.The meal has existed in Kolkata since the nineteenth century, having been brought in by British colonial immigrants and being consumed especially during the holidays.At Nahoum and Son’s bakery, one of the last remaining vestiges of this Anglo-Indian cuisine can be found in Kolkata today.
- The bakery, which has been in operation since 1902 and is owned by a small family from the city’s dwindling Baghdadi Jewish community, has been serving the city’s Baghdadi Jews since 1902.
- The fruitcake in Nahoum was so good that when Archbishop Geoffrey Fisher of Canterbury visited the city, he declared it to be the best he’d ever tasted anywhere in the world, even better than any he’d tasted in Britain.
- ″People’s bakery,″ as Nahoum and Son’s describes themselves, is located at the intersection of the various ethnic and religious groups that have lived in and passed through this city over the centuries.
- Cycling through Kolkata was a kaleidoscope of ethnic groups—the Chinese, the Portuguese, the Armenian, the French—all of whom contributed to the city’s transformation into a thriving culinary hotbed.
Since it fell under the control of the Mughal Empire in the 16th century and remained so until the 18th century, West Bengal has gained an international reputation for its cuisine, which is based on sweet spices, nuts, and dried fruit.All of these dishes were inspired by the Persian cuisine enjoyed by Mughal royalty.Following then, Kolkata served as the capital of British colonial authority for more than two centuries.People from all over the world, including the Chinese, the Portuguese, the Armenian and the French were cycling through it and transforming the city into a bustling gastronomic cauldron.
Fruitcake broke away from the Christian tradition in which it was rooted and evolved into a delicacy that can be enjoyed all year long by people of all faiths, regardless of their religious affiliation.Even after the fall of British authority in India, fruitcake remained a tar-like substance in the hearts and minds of the people of Kolkata.Numerous variations of this basic recipe could be found in numerous other bakeries throughout the city, and some people, such as my father’s mother, even began to make it at home with the help of others who shared the recipe.
The kishmish, or raisins, were distributed differently among the participants; some even included cashews.During these years, my father indulged in fruitcake whenever he got the opportunity.This was the backdrop against which fruitcake bloomed into a delicacy in the minds of many Bengalis, including my father, who grew up eating it.
- Eventually, this culinary allure would even spread to their offspring, who were born in various nations and cultures.
- When my parents had me, it was eleven years after they had arrived in New Jersey, where we lived a stone’s throw away from a couple of Indian stores, they were thrilled.
- A $3.50 fruitcake was never more than a few cents away.
- Our favorite variation, on the other hand, was one that was prepared for us by a family friend whom we genuinely loathed.
- My parents accepted her as a friend because she was a willowy, stern auntie.
- She, like my parents, had emigrated to New Jersey shortly after her own arranged marriage in West Bengal, which had ended badly.
- She could bake a fruitcake that was superior to any store-bought one.
- It had no starchy baking soda residue, which might have been responsible for the little smear on the mass-produced copies.
- I suppose the only reason we were able to retain a connection with her was because we were able to obtain a tin of her fruitcake on sometimes.
Some believe that a picture by Caravaggio from 1593, ″Boy with a Basket of Fruit,″ is the origin of the link between fruit and sissiness.In it, we see a young guy with flushed cheeks, a flowing white garment dropping from his shoulders, and a frame as delicate as a sparrow’s feathers.He is gripping his basket of fruit as if it were a pair of pearls that he is grasping.The artwork by Caravaggio was created before the term ″fruitcake″ became widely used in British and subsequently American language.The use of the term ″fruit″ as a slur has its roots in Polari, a British cant spoken by the subaltern in the nineteenth century, including sex workers, seasteading seamen, and queers.Queer males of that era would refer to one another as ″fruit,″ addressing one other by their given names, and gently making fun of their own feminine characteristics that others loathed.
However, when it slouched into the mainstream, this word was appropriated from them.Suddenly, it was no longer tied to the queers who had originally owned it; over the following two centuries, it gradually devolved into a phrase that heteros would use disparagingly to refer to queer people in general.When the insult ″fruit″ made its way to the United States in the twentieth century, it became synonymous with fruitcake.A location of physical and state-sanctioned brutality against homosexual men in the United States during the 1930s, the ″fruitcake factory″ was virtually an analogue to modern-day conversion therapy, with castration and lobotomies being used against gay men.A former Miss Oklahoma turned virulently homophobic advocate, Anita Bryant, launched a campaign to prohibit homosexual men from becoming teachers in Florida in the late 1970s, putting this linguistic ghetto under the spotlight once more.
To ″rescue the youngsters″ from the brainwashing of these wild, fruity queers was something she wished to do.It was from this rose that sprung a single statement of queer resistance: ″Suck some fruit for Anita.″ A fruit’s status as a symbol of power was reinforced yet again.In middle school, I was a gangly little dweeb who was the perfect target for bullies.If you look beyond my wide Bengali nose and into my eyes, you may see me as the brown counterpart of the youngster in Caravaggio’s painting, a depressingly frail wisp of a boy with no legs or arms to speak for himself.My mere manner communicated a sense of vulnerability.However, despite my complete and total dorkdom, I had managed to establish a rapport with the attractive young ladies at my elite school.
In sixth grade, one of my greatest friends was the one who initially referred to me as ″fruitcake.″ I was so desperate for her approval and attention that I could take even the most heinous of insults from her without blinking.(I feel forced to define this connection in terms of Stockholm Syndrome: I was mesmerized by the amount of attention my captor lavished on me.) ″You’re such a fruitcake,″ someone said to me once when I was admitting my feelings for Britney Spears.″You’re such a fruitcake,″ they said with blasé inelegance.I wasn’t sure how to digest what she was saying at first since I didn’t understand what she was getting at all.″Do you mean something like the dessert?″ I inquired of her.
I’m sure I was chuckling to myself, realizing how ridiculous I sounded in the process.I was almost tempted to express my gratitude!Let’s face it, the fruitcake tasted delicious.I’d even had it for dinner with my parents the night before.
″No, it just means you’re a scumbag queer as hell,″ she informed me.Afterwards, she took great pains, perhaps even more care than any emotional tormentor could muster up, to explain to me the specific mechanics of the term fruitcake and what it signified, and how it was among the worst things someone could call you, perhaps even worse than fag.My distance has given me the opportunity to express it with a sense of humour these days: I was bullied, even in a private school in the United States!But it was at this middle school period that I recognized I needed to traverse this social minefield with caution, despite the fact that I was still clueless of my own sexuality and conscious of the fact that my mannerisms were pretty genteel.It was my decision not to neutralize the qualities of myself that had garnered so much attention, but rather to highlight them with bright colors as a means of ensuring my survival.
- I accentuated my queer drawl and wore pants that were a little tighter.
- Although the history of my queer forefathers who sucked a fruit for Anita did not reach me growing up in suburban New Jersey, I would somehow reenact this trajectory in my own life by turning the word fruitcake into a kind of armor.
- Whatever embarrassment and contempt I might have felt for being associated with this term was overshadowed by my desire to remain composed and unflappable in the face of adversity.
After a while, you might argue that I had even regained this word, although on my own terms.My unwittingly followed the path that these gay forefathers had carved out for me, turning an insult into something that would give me power in the future.As much as I adored the meal itself, I’d come to like the phrase ″fruitcake″ just as much.Using the term ″fruitcake″ became as linguistically out of date in high school as using the terms ″friend of Dorothy″ or a ″square,″ among other things.It hasn’t been used in a long time, if ever.It appears that the word has fallen out of favor, with homophobes and queers alike using it in derogatory ways.
This past fall, I was seated at a table with six other white ladies, who were also my coworkers at the time.We’d all gathered to come up with ideas for intriguing Christmas-themed material to write for the holidays this year.We were instructed to jot down any phrases that came to mind as soon as we heard the word ″Christmas,″ which led one of my colleagues to scribble the phrase ″fruitcake″ on his piece of paper.A chorus of non-Bengali individuals joined in to express the depth of their dislike for my cherished food: ″How did fruitcake come to be so despised?″ they wondered.Why do people continue to consume it?
- After all, who actually enjoys it?
- I had the sensation that I didn’t exist at this time; it was like a flashback of my middle school oblivion had come flooding back into adulthood.
- For years, I had struggled to come to terms with the idea that this word meant something different to me than it did to the majority of others, and I had spent years coaching myself into a state of self-acceptance.
- Was it necessary for me to start again from the beginning?
- Once again, I felt a strong sense of ownership over this word, and this experience strengthened my resolve to defend a food that has been tarnished by so many.
- Every Christmas, it’s as if the clock has been set: interest in professing a dislike for fruitcake spikes around this time of year, and the stenographers who work in the food media scramble to compile lists of fruitcake alternatives.
- It is treated as a matter of clinical service journalism on the part of the media.
- As a result, we must write our pieces with the understanding that no one could possibly appreciate fruitcake from a gastronomical standpoint.
- At times, I’ve seen this propensity to be emblematic of a larger problem with a food media that is quick to cast aspersions on a particular dish and construct an imaginary consensus without taking into consideration any voices who may disagree.
It’s unclear who’s tastes are the ultimate arbiters by which everyone else’s should be assessed.I wouldn’t be shocked if, one Christmas in the not-too-distant future, we come across an essay that expresses a fondness for fruitcake in terms of discovery.As a result, other from a brief piece by Sandip Roy, an editor of the English-language Indian journal Firstpost, there is very little evidence to support fruitcake’s significance to Bengali culture and identity.According to Roy, who spoke on National Public Radio two years ago, ″the British have long since departed Calcutta, but they have left behind the fruitcake.″ While the rest of the world ridicules indestructible fruitcake as ″the present that keeps on giving,″ Calcutta, the former British metropolis, warmly welcomes it.
- Roy, who happens to be a gay Bengali man like myself, might have been telling my own tale in his own words.
- Despite the fact that I haven’t been to Kolkata in twenty years, my father brought with him the spirit of the city, and enshrined within that essence is a deep affection for fruitcake.
- The unique mainstreaming of fruitcake’s odiousness has overshadowed the fondness many Bengalis have for the delectable confection.
- In my mind, this has been facilitated by the decision-makers in the industry I’ve found myself in, who are orchestrating the destruction of a meal that I perceive to be inextricably linked to my identity.
- Therefore, consider this to be my treatise, or more accurately, my mission statement.
Here I am, putting the record straight on what fruitcake ″means to me,″ and how it becomes a place where these two diametrically opposed elements of my personality may come together.But I’m afraid I’m speaking into thin air.I’m well aware that my voice will not be sufficient to correct the widespread misunderstanding that has accompanied fruitcake in the American imagination for so long.Especially when they are rooted in the entertaining American sport of hatred, traditions are difficult to unlearn and replace.Recently, I came across a cultural ritual that was extremely confusing to me: For the last twenty-five years, the town of Manitou Springs, Colorado, has hosted an event known as the Fruitcake Toss.
The stuff of my own dreams, including fruitcakes that fly through the air like javelins through fields of wheat.Everyone has the right to enjoy despising fruitcake, and I won’t stop them from doing so, but this organized humiliation of fruitcake is clearly distressing.Why would somebody want to dispose of fruitcakes?They would be very useful to my family!Please.Catapult your unused fruitcakes into my arms, then into my mouth with your unused fruitcakes.
If you don’t want fruitcake, I’ll gladly accept it on your behalf.This article was originally published in December 2016, but we’re republishing it in celebration of Pride Month and also because we think it’s great.Read it here.
Forget using it as a doorstop when you make this heirloom holiday fruitcake!
Do you enjoy the taste of fruitcake?Despite the fact that this classic holiday cake is sometimes derided (I presume some people don’t care for candied fruit?), it is delicious when properly prepared.This fruitcake, which is filled with dates, walnuts, raisins, and glazed cherries, is a favorite in our household.Consider it to be raisin bread on steroids.
- Patricia, the wife of a family friend, shared her recipe with us, and she has been sending us a loaf of bread every Christmas for years.
- Each year, we must bake at least two loaves: one to eat right away since we are in a hurry, and the other to sprinkle with brandy and store for Christmas morning.
- In addition, these loaves make wonderful presents.
Video: How to Make Holiday Fruitcake
How to Make Fruitcake
Fruitcake is actually no more complicated than any other fast bread or loaf cake, with the addition of significantly more fruit and nuts.Making a basic cake batter, mixing in the fruits and nuts, and baking until a tester put in the center comes out clean is all that is required.When cut, the resulting cake is dense and like a gorgeous mosaic, with bits of fruit and nuts in each piece.It is very delicious.You may either sprinkle the cake with liquor (we like brandy) or leave it completely alcohol-free as we did.
- By adding liquor, you will be able to make the fruitcake more moist and make it keep longer.
Tips for the Best Fruit Cake
- Before adding the fruits and nuts to the batter, toss them in the flour to coat them. During the baking process, this will aid in keeping them uniformly distributed throughout the cake.
- Place a pan of water in the oven with the fruitcake to prevent it from burning. Cooking will be more equal and gentle as a result.
- A serrated knife, such as a bread knife, is the perfect tool for cutting this fruitcake into slices.
How Long Does Fruitcake Last?
- Because it is loaded with nuts and candied fruit, fruitcake keeps its freshness for a longer period of time than most other cakes. It will stay even longer if you sprinkle it with an alcohol such as brandy before serving it. Just m