Grandma Oliver'S Fruit Cake
A rich, fruit-laden cake featuring a blend of dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices, perfect for holiday celebrations or special occasions with family and friends.
Ingredients
- 5 cups flour ⓘ
- 6 eggs ⓘ
- 2 teaspoons baking powder ⓘ
- 2 teaspoons nutmeg ⓘ
- 1 quart grape juice ⓘ
- 1 pound dates ⓘ
- 1 pound fruit cake mix ⓘ
- 1 pound citron ⓘ
- 1 pound orange peel ⓘ
- 1 pound lemon peel ⓘ
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups Crisco oil ⓘ
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon ⓘ
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 pound nuts ⓘ
- 1 pound white raisins
- 1 pound red pineapple ⓘ
- 1 pound green pineapple
Instructions
- Mix together the eggs and brown sugar in a large bowl.
- Add the oil and then incorporate all of the fruit and 1 cup of flour.
- Add the nuts and grape juice to the mixture.
- Gradually fold in the remaining 4 cups of flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Pour the batter into prepared pans and bake at 300°F (150°C) for 1 1/2 hours.
Tips & Substitutions
For a moister cake, consider soaking the dried fruits in warm grape juice before mixing them in. If you're short on time, you can replace the fruit cake mix with an equal weight of mixed dried fruits. Make sure to sift the flour with the baking powder and spices to ensure an even distribution. This fruit cake also tastes better after a few days, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.
Serving Suggestions
Serve slices of Grandma Oliver's Fruit Cake with a dollop of whipped cream or alongside a cup of tea for a delightful afternoon treat. It pairs beautifully with Cream Cheese And Pecan Spread for a richer flavor experience. You can also complement it with a side of fresh fruit or a light Vegetable Salad Dressing to balance the sweetness.
Storage & Reheating
Store the fruit cake in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to three months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm gently in the oven at 250°F (120°C) for about 20 minutes, keeping it covered to retain moisture.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Grandma Oliver'S Fruit Cake contains roughly 3641 calories, with 44g protein, 579g carbohydrates, and 146g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin C (353% of the Daily Value), dietary fiber (313% of the Daily Value), and calcium (112% of the Daily Value). Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 2660mg per serving (116% 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
Can I use different types of fruit in this fruit cake?
Absolutely! Feel free to substitute the fruit cake mix with any combination of dried fruits you prefer, such as apricots, figs, or cherries. Just ensure you maintain the total weight to keep the balance of flavors and moisture.
How can I make this fruit cake less sweet?
To reduce the sweetness, consider cutting back on the brown sugar by half a cup and using unsweetened grape juice. You can also omit some of the candied fruits like orange and lemon peel, which contribute to the overall sweetness.
Is it necessary to include all the spices listed?
While the spices enhance the flavor profile, you can adjust them to your taste. If you're not a fan of nutmeg or cinnamon, you can reduce the quantities or leave them out entirely, but this may result in a less aromatic cake.
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).