Delectable Fruitcakes for Christmas

People SAY they detest or even absolutely hate fruitcakes. Is this due to the cake itself or is it a myth perpetrated by fruitcake jokes? Perhaps, fruitcakes have received a bad reputation for a variety of reasons, including those above. Many people do not like a dark, dense, cake filled with fruit and nuts that may not be recognizable. Others claim that if it can last for years, it can hardly be described as a food. More claim that it is too dry and you can choke to death before a tube can be inserted down your throat in order to wash away the blockage. Others complain they cannot tell what is in it except for the raisins; therefore, they claim to hate raisins, too and view them as being suspicious. There have even been stories where a fruitcake was supposedly used as a weapon.

Nonetheless, it has always puzzled me why people say they hate Christmas fruitcakes. I really like fruitcakes and it is always a lot of fun to eat it while picking out the best parts along the way. One time, I remember Paul Harvey was doing his "The Rest of the Story" segment and was talking about fruitcakes and about how many people claimed to hate them. I wanted to write a letter to Mr. Harvey to tell him I would gladly take all his fruitcakes he did not want. Unfortunately, I never did, mostly because I was afraid I might end up with 50 thousand fruitcakes. That would have been fine in itself, but I really had no place to store that many.

I have seen those fruitcakes myself, though I do believe most commercially made fruitcakes have had formaldehyde or another preserving ingredient added to it. I do not like those kinds either and especially since they ARE dry, they ARE dense like a brick, and they DO have those little green square things cannot be chewed; however, that I have used successfully as a bait product on a mouse trap. Nevertheless, there are good fruitcakes that put the horror stories of those other honestly bad fruitcakes to the test.

Fruitcakes typically contain a variety of candied fruits and nuts, and other ingredients that may be added, including coconut and alcohol. Made with just enough cake batter to hold the other ingredients together, there are two basic kinds of fruitcake. The dark, dense fruitcake, usually made with molasses, brown sugar, raisins, dates, cherries, and pecans and the light fruitcake typically contains sultanas, currants (or golden raisins), pineapple, apricots, and almonds and has a light-colored amber, yellow, or white cake base. Candied citron is made from the thick peel of the fruit and is also used in some fruitcakes, but it can be omitted, because many people do not like the taste.

Almost any fresh, dried, or cured fruit can be used including dried mango, cranberries, apples, pears, papaya, raspberries, oranges, bananas, and figs. Walnuts, peanuts, macadamia, hickory, pine, hazel, Brazil nuts, cashews, and pistachio nuts can be used, along with sunflower seeds. Some people even like to substitute regular flour with whole-wheat flower and some add oatmeal, too. Chocolate lovers can add cocoa powder and chocolate chips. You can also add all the fruits and nuts to a regular white cake mix using less liquid than called for and have a really nice light, white fruitcake.

Many fruitcakes are soaked in alcohol such as bourbon, wine, brandy, and rum, but usually require a few weeks to "cure" before being eaten. Others, who want a non-alcoholic fruitcake, use fruit juices and it makes no difference to the fruitcake, as it is all a matter of taste. Instead of a fruitcake, make fruitcake cookies and they are a favorite with children and adults alike.

Just because it is a fruitcake does not mean you cannot add anything you would enjoy. I love candied cherries and will add an extra two cups to my batter. My brother in law makes a great yellow cake fruitcake with candied cherries, dates, raisins, and lots of nuts. The point is to make a cake filled with what you want. Therefore, the next time some one tells you they hate fruitcake, give them a slice of one you have made yourself. They may just change their mind.

Sources:

The Ultimate Fruitcake Recipe

Holiday Traditions