Fruit Cake For The Holiday
A rich, moist fruit cake infused with spices, dates, and nuts, perfect for holiday celebrations and loved by those who enjoy traditional festive flavors.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Boil the sugar, shortening, spices, salt, dates, and raisins for 15 minutes.
- Allow the mixture to cool.
- Add eggs, dissolved baking soda, flour, mixed fruit, cherries, and nuts to the cooled mixture.
- Mix until the mixture is stiff, using your hands if needed.
- Pour the batter into a greased pan.
- Bake in a 325°F oven for about 1 1/2 hours.
- Optional: Add a little brandy or rum before serving.
Tips & Substitutions
To enhance flavor, consider soaking the chopped dates in a bit of brandy or rum before adding them to the mix. If you're short on time, you can substitute the shortening with an equal amount of unsalted butter. For a nut-free version, simply omit the chopped nuts or replace them with sunflower seeds. This fruit cake can also be made ahead of time and improves in flavor as it sits.
Serving Suggestions
Serve slices of this rich fruit cake with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful contrast. It pairs beautifully with Pioneer Rice Pudding for a festive dessert spread. For a beverage pairing, consider serving it with spiced tea or mulled wine to complement the warm spices in the cake.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover fruit cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze it for up to three months. To reheat, allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then warm it gently in the oven at 300°F for about 15-20 minutes.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Fruit Cake For The Holiday contains roughly 4070 calories, with 41g protein, 402g carbohydrates, and 258g fat. It is an excellent source of calcium (90% of the Daily Value), protein (82% of the Daily Value), and iron (80% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 3000mg per serving (130% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I keep this fruit cake?
This fruit cake can be stored at room temperature for about a week in an airtight container. If you want to keep it longer, wrapping it well and freezing it can extend its shelf life to three months. Just remember to let it thaw slowly before serving.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).