If there is one food I cannot go through Christmas without, it is my mother’s fruitcake. Yes, I said it — fruitcake.
“Fruitcake (or fruit cake) is a cake made with chopped candied fruit and/or dried fruit, nuts, and spices, and (occasionally) soaked in spirits. In the United Kingdom, certain rich versions may be iced and decorated.
Fruit cakes are typically served in celebration of weddings and Christmas. Given their rich nature, fruit cake is most often consumed on its own, as opposed to with condiments (such as butter or cream).” Source
I certainly understand if people don’t like fruitcake, but I also have to say “bless your heart” to them because they have not actually tasted the real thing. As in my mother’s fruitcake. I’ve tried the ones you buy at the grocery, and they are exactly as people describe. However, my mother has perfected her recipe over the years, and it is nothing short of amazing. I’m not a Christmas cookie kind of gal, maybe because we are all spoiled with this cake.
It’s not an easy cake to make, and I have certainly never tried making one, but I had her give me the recipe for the article I wrote for Romantic Homes last Christmas.
So if you’re brave in the kitchen and want the real thing, then this is the recipe for you:-)
Honestly this cake is amazing and brings back so many wonderful memories of Christmas for me, I just can’t go through the season without one.
What food is a “must have” for your family during this season?
I’ll be joining:
Anita your mother's cake looks wonderful. I like it, although I could go without it. I could never make a good one and I do rather make it myself cause I love to bake.
Maybe I will try it.
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Fabby
Our "must have food" is my mothers stuffing for the turkey, nothing like hers, although I know how to finally make it.
Hugs,
Fabby
For the complete novice, the phrase "raise to the desired height" leaves us quite in the dark… But it looks yummy.
So it's not in the liquid:-) It needs to be above the 2 quarts water and 2 tablespoons white vinegar.
I love fruitcake and especially my mother's. Sadly she passed away at age 92 without it having occurred to me at anytime to ask her for the recipe. You are smart to have your mother's recipe. Enjoy!
It's a wonderful recipe. I never baked a fruit cake in a pressure canner before. Otherwise, it's more or less the same as our white fruitcake recipe. Instead of splashing grape wine and glazing with orange juice mixture, I just pour orange liqueur (Curacao or Triple Sec) over the hot cake from the oven and splash a little more after turning the cake out of the pan. We had one at Thanksgiving and there will be another for Christmas.
Oh- I have made fruit cakes in the past and had really "good" ones but I just can't seem to really LIKE them. lol Glad you love your moms and you will have to learn to make it to pass the tradition on to your own children.
Blessings and Happy Weekend-xo Diana