Making Fruitcake

This one has changed a few minds about fruitcake and it's the one our family has made for many years. Filled with lots of the traditional candied fruits and nuts, it also has a butter-rich cake that holds it all together. Then it is wrapped multiple times in brandy soaked cheesecloths so that it arrives at peak flavor for Christmas.

[@janinas.5965]

Hello all! I don't know why fruitcake gets such a bad rap...I love it. Growing up in a Polish home, we had this every Christmas. I have to comment on your range...it is just beautiful.I have never seen one that is tiered like that. One thing I have noticed in all your video's is how clean and shiney your stoves are! I would never be able to do a video because I would have to clean the oven. LOL. That's one job I just hate. Thanks for this recipe, I think I will give it a try and soak it in rum. Take care everyone!

[@billynage]

The Westinghouse range is FABULOUS!!! I think I've been really inspired to make this fruitcake, maybe leaving out a thing or two and adding MORE NUTS!!! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Billy! I hope you give this a try - start with the recipe for the cake part and then make it your own. Thanks for watching!!

[@raccoon874]

*I soak my raisins, currents & glaced fruits in whiskey for about a week... The raisins absorb so much liquid they almost return to grape state!* *My version has less spices, minimal glaced fruits (mostly cherries) and 100% vegan. Oh and it gets soaked in whiskey or bourbon for a few weeks after.*

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Those fruits soaked in whiskey sound wonderful! Sounds like a nice boozy fruitcake - I'll bet it's delicious! Thanks!

[@funnyfarmgal]

Thanks for sharing your Mom,s fruit cake recipe.. I am sure it is fabulous. I have already made mine a couple of weeks ago and they are now soaking up the spicy Jamaican rum..I added some extra rum to my fruit this year.. We well see how crazy we all get this year on it.. Just love your 60's stove, I don,t ever remembering seeing one like it before...I am sure you will have loads of fun using it.. Enjoy your fruit cake and a Merry Christmas..

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Jane! Your rum-soaked fruitcake sounds terrific!! Hope you enjoy a wonderful Christmas season along with that fruitcake! Thanks for watching!

[@pats5796]

Ralph and Kevin I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.. Happy Cooking....

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Patricia!! Wishing you and yours all the best in the New Year!!

[@kristopherlandmeier2740]

I love how Maryann is the voice of reason in your videos. 😂

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Kristopher!! LOL - you're right about that!!

[@debbieann3594]

Hi Kevin, Ralph, and Mary Ann! Holy Moly!! I have never been a huge fan of fruit cake but Boy oh boy, what I wouldn't give for a piece of this cake!! I think I'd prefer it without alcohol and do the simple syrup instead. Always enjoy your channel!!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Debbie - thanks for your note! Maybe this fruitcake would change your mind about them...someone suggested that you could also use apple juice instead of the alcohol. I think I'll try one like that next year. Thanks for watching!!

[@BrandeArno]

A little tip with plastic wrap to avoid it scrunching is to first put the sheet of wrap on you, Then place it over your item you want to wrap. I know this sounds silly, but it does work.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Brande - I'm going to try that the next time I have to use the plastic wrap!! I often use three sheets of wrap because the first to end up in a ball after my fighting with it! Thanks for the tip and for watching!!

[@tomsparks6099]

New Subscriber -- OMG -- I love that stove!!! I posted on your blog about fruitcake. For kicks, I made it a few years ago (I have a great recipe, although yours looks lovely) and my family devoured it (weekly spritzing of brandy helped, also my recipe includes molasses). I was amazed how they were devoured. Now is the time to start it.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Martin - yes, it's time to make the fruitcake!! If yours had molasses in the recipe (sounds wonderful) it may be considered a "dark" fruitcake - this one is a "light" fruitcake, but it's the one my grandmother and mom always made so I continue. I think the alcohol actually adds a nice flavor. We usually make ours the Sunday after Thanksgiving so it has time to "ripen." Thanks!!

[@craftlover9]

Love the roasting pan idea!! I made my apricot fruitcakes last week which are just apricot,dates,raisins,pecans. I'm not a real fruitcake lover, mainly because of the citron so watching you make yours without it I think I'll just may have to try your recipe. I have a couple people who can't have alcohol so I researched what else I could wrap some of them in and found that some people use apple juice. I'm trying it on a couple of them so hopefully that works out. Anyway, thanks so much for sharing!! Have a great day!!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

craftlover - your fruitcake sounds great! I love apricots and dates! Citron can be a little overpowering in these cakes, and my mom never used any and I don't either. The idea of the apple juice is a good one...I may make a non-alcoholic one next year. Thanks so much!!

[@craftlover9]

cavalcadeoffood You're welcome!!

[@AussieAngeS]

Wonderful! I've never made fruit cake before. Those look awesome.

[@randamity]

"And I think I know what you're going to do next..." "What? Lick the spatula?" I got a good laugh out of that, lol. You'd really have to love butter to lick it off the spatula.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Jen! When it comes to butter, sometimes we just can't resist!! Thanks so much for watching!

[@TheStefan40]

How cool! I made fruitcakes this weekend also, my great aunt's recipe. I'm going to make one big one this weekend because I love the stuff so much. My better half doesn't, so more for me! Our recipe isn't fermented. Just served natural. I asked my great aunt when she started making them, and she said that she used to get them from Awrey's, both light and dark, before they got too expensive. Then she found the recipe she uses and the rest is history. Looking forward to more Christmas recipes! Merry Merry to you and yours and thanks for the inspiration!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Steve - I'll bet your aunt's recipe is a good one! I remember those fruitcakes from Awrey's, although my mom didn't buy any because I think she also thought they were too expensive. I like light and dark cakes...I'm easy to please! But mom always make this light, butter-rich cake and so when I make it I always feel her presence in the kitchen with me. Hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas season!!

[@TheStefan40]

Thank you, Kevin. Wesolych Swiat to you and yours and Feliz Navidad to Ralph!

[@MoonLily]

Wow, those look yummy! I will for sure try this next year...perhaps if I start October 1st the cakes will be good and happy by Christmas! I just love your Westinghouse stove! It's so bright and shiny! When we bought our new place, about 5 yrs ago, it came w/ a late 60's GE stove. Looked like it had been used maybe twice in all those years. We could not get it to work to save our lives, so we bought a new stove. New stove wouldn't work either. Found out it was a problem w/ our breaker box and NOT our stoves. It breaks my heart to this day that we let that old stove go when they brought the new one. Oh I'm sick again just now as I type this....wahhhhaaaa :(

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi moon lily! I think if you made these in October, they would have plenty of goodness to them by Christmas!! Sorry about your old stove. If your new stove ever konks out one day you could replace it with a vintage model! So far, the Westinghouse Terrace Top has performed well. Thanks for watching and hope you make a fruitcake next year!!

[@heatherinparis]

I LOVE fruitcakes and these look delicious! I know they have to be made pretty well in advance of the time they'll be wanted....when did you start these?

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Heather - we do the fruitcakes usually on the day after Thanksgiving. That gives (usually) about four weeks before Christmas, so they have time to age a little and soak up the flavors of the cheesecloth. Thanks!

[@hedrowilson6764]

I don't know why this is only just now showing up in my feed, but I am so excited to finally have fruitcake demystified. I have never made it before, but have always been so curious about the process. This looks great! I think my daughter and I may give this a whirl, at the top of the month.

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Hi Hedro! We usually make the fruitcake the Sunday after Thanksgiving to give it enough time to "ripen" for Christmas. Hope you and your daughter can make a batch...it's a great project to do together!

[@jamessheridan4306]

I would love to have seen a follow-up to this. Slicing, serving, tasting.

[@snookie65]

I love a good fruitcake. My mom would buy them from the monks. They were potent & delish! I think mom & I were really the only ones that enjoyed them. Maybe I'll give this a try next year, just not enough time now. I could serve it with my apple pie moonshine. Ha! Btw, Love the stove, unique!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Thanks, Snookie!! That apple pie moonshine sure sounds interesting....that might be good to baste on the fruitcake!! I'll bet those monk made fruitcakes were great! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!

[@snookie65]

Merry Christmas to you and yours. :)

[@scottbatchelor1069]

no orange peel or that sour citron...I tend to make mine with Mincemeat and a spiced cake mix

[@sthompson4049]

chef Kevin, this reminds me of Ann Page,minus booze from the A&P supermarket.their fruitcake was the best,thanks for the recipe,and can you give a list of your ranges,even a marginal....???k

[@cavalcadeoffood]

I remember fondly those Ann Page fruitcakes! I had an aunt who always shopped at the A&P, and would bring one at holiday time...so good!! I will have to sit down and think of my ranges and list them!! Thanks for watching!

[@sueveikoso8161]

Do you soak your fruits first?

[@marguinafernandez5920]

Okay.... Ssssoooooo I made these puppies last week and they're still soaking brandi but I couldn't help myself and I had to cut a piece from one of my loafs... And.... Oooooommmmmmgggggg!!!!! Triple orgasm inside my mouth!!!! What just happened??!!!! DELICIOUSNESS TO THE MAX!!!!! This fruitcake is out of this world!!! Super excited for my family to try it!!!! Love you guys more every day.... Margie Ps---I GUESS YOUR KICKING ASS IS DOING YOU GUYS AWESOME RECEIPIES!!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS MY YOU TUBE BFFS!!!!!

[@cavalcadeoffood]

Margie - LOL! So glad you made this recipe and that you're loving how they turned out! I know the brandy give them a little extra somethin' - somethin'!! Hope you enjoy the fruitcakes with your family and you all have a beautiful holiday season!! Thanks so much!!

[@xjAlbert]

Thanks for sharing your family's holiday tradition ʕ•́؈•̀ʔ

[@cavalcadeoffood]

My pleasure! It's a great tradition to keep alive!