Welcome to the realm of culinary wonders, where flavors dance and aromas ignite the senses. In this article, we present a delectable journey into the world of Christmas fruitcakes, with a special focus on Carolyn's cherished recipe. This timeless classic, passed down through generations, embodies the spirit of the holiday season, capturing the essence of love, warmth, and togetherness.
As we delve into the intricacies of Carolyn's Christmas fruitcake, you'll discover a symphony of textures and flavors that will tantalize your taste buds. From the plump, juicy raisins soaked in rum to the nutty crunch of walnuts and pecans, each ingredient plays a harmonious role in this culinary masterpiece. The moist, dense crumb, enriched with spices and citrus zest, provides a perfect backdrop for the vibrant flavors to shine.
But Carolyn's Christmas fruitcake is not just a solitary delight. Accompanying it are an array of complementary recipes that elevate the fruitcake experience to new heights. From the decadent Cream Cheese Frosting, transforming the cake into an indulgent treat, to the aromatic Orange Glaze, adding a touch of citrusy sweetness, each recipe adds a unique dimension to this classic dessert.
Whether you're a seasoned baker seeking inspiration or a novice cook eager to embark on a culinary adventure, this article will guide you through the process of creating Carolyn's Christmas fruitcake and its accompanying recipes. With detailed instructions, helpful tips, and captivating images, we'll empower you to recreate this cherished tradition in your own kitchen. So, let's embark on this delightful journey and experience the magic of Christmas fruitcake, one bite at a time.
REALLY GOOD FRUITCAKE
Let us make the case that a Southern fruitcake recipe can actually be delicious.
Provided by Ivy Odom
Categories Cakes
Time 3h45m
Yield 2 loaves
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- Place pineapple, figs, apples, persimmons, peaches, golden raisins, cinnamon stick, bourbon, and brandy in a large bowl; stir to coat fruit in liquid. Cover and let stand at room temperature 24 hours, stirring once every 8 hours. Discard cinnamon stick.
- Preheat oven to 300°F. Spray 2 8.5x4.5-inch loaf pans with baking spray; line pans with parchment paper, leaving a 2 inch overhang on the two long sides. Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium bowl; set aside. Place butter in the bowl of a large stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat butter on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add sugar to butter and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, beating until just incorporated. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture to mixer bowl; beat on low until just combined, about 30 seconds.
- Remove mixer bowl from mixer. Fold in zests, juice, cherries, pecans, and soaked fruit mixture. Batter will be very thick. Divide batter evenly among prepared pans. Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of each fruitcake comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
- Place pans on a wire rack to cool completely, about 2 hours. Remove fruitcakes from pans. Slice to serve, or if storing, dampen cheesecloth with bourbon and wrap fruitcake tightly with cheesecloth, then wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Store in the refrigerator up to 1 month, changing cheesecloth once a week. To store for a short period of time (less than 1 week), wrap tightly with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator.
GRANDMA CAROLYN'S CARROT CAKE
My Grandma Carolyn is almost 90 and she still makes this carrot cake. It is moist and so flavorful! She baked it in a tube pan and frosted it with chocolate frosting as did my mom. I think that's because this is how my dad likes it. I like it with cream cheese frosting myself and usually bake this in a 9x13 pan and frost it with...
Provided by Amy H.
Categories Cakes
Time 50m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- 1. mix dry ingredients together thoroughly, in this recipe, count your sugar as a dry ingredient.
- 2. Add oil, extract to dry ingredients. Mix in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each submission. Cake batter will be somewhat stiff at this point.
- 3. Add pineapple and carrots to cake batter.
- 4. Pour batter into a greased 9x13 rectangular pan or tube pan.
- 5. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or when toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.
- 6. Frost with your favorite frosting.
JEWELED FRUITCAKE
I promise this jeweled fruitcake is simply fantastic. Even my friends and family members who don't normally care for fruitcake say they love it! -Sharon Hoffman, Donna, Texas
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 mini loaves (6 slices each).
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 300°. Line four greased and floured 5-3/4x3x2-in. loaf pans with waxed paper and grease the paper; set aside., In a large bowl, combine dates, nuts, cherries and coconut. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; stir into fruit mixture until well coated., In a small bowl, beat eggs and vanilla until foamy. Fold into fruit mixture and mix well. Pour into prepared pans., Bake 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Wrap tightly and store in a cool, dry place. Cut with a serrated knife.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 330 calories, Fat 13g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 26mg cholesterol, Sodium 130mg sodium, Carbohydrate 53g carbohydrate (41g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 6g protein.
CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE
It's a shame that fruitcake as a species gets such a bad rap. With its two key ingredients--rum and butter--it ought to be a hit. This recipe includes dried fruit, instead of the glowing, candied stuff we've all learned to associate with fruitcake, and is less dense and more cake-like than many fruitcake recipes. It has become a favorite of my friends and family around the holidays (even the skeptical ones), and is delicious by itself, or covered with a layer of almond paste.
Provided by Karen Uffelman
Categories Desserts Specialty Dessert Recipes Liqueur Dessert Recipes Rum
Time P20DT6h57m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Soak cherries, mango, cranberries, currants, and citron in 1/4 cup rum for at least 24 hours. Cover tightly, and store at room temperature.
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Butter a 6x3-inch round pan or loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mix into butter and sugar in three batches, alternating with molasses and milk. Stir in soaked fruit and chopped nuts. Scrape batter into prepared pan.
- Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons rum.
- Cut out one piece parchment paper and one piece cheesecloth, each large enough to wrap around the cake. Moisten cheesecloth with 1 tablespoon rum. Arrange cheesecloth on top of parchment paper, and unmold cake onto it. Sprinkle top and sides of cake with remaining rum. Wrap the cheesecloth closely to the surface of the cake, then wrap with paper. Place in an airtight tin, and age for at least 10 weeks. If storing longer, douse with additional rum for every 10 weeks of storage.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 302.3 calories, Carbohydrate 33.3 g, Cholesterol 54.1 mg, Fat 14.8 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 2.5 g, SaturatedFat 7.8 g, Sodium 202.7 mg, Sugar 20.5 g
FRUITCAKE CHRISTMAS COOKIES
As holiday gifts, these rich fruit-and nut-filled cookies are pretty and practical. These are great make ahead Christmas cookies -the taste actually gets better over time! -Julia Funkhouser, Carson, Iowa
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 40m
Yield about 3-1/2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 325°. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in remaining ingredients., Drop dough by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Store in an airtight container. (Cookies are best after a few days.)
Nutrition Facts : Calories 265 calories, Fat 15g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 33mg cholesterol, Sodium 168mg sodium, Carbohydrate 33g carbohydrate (23g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 3g protein.
CAROLYN'S ICE BOX FRUITCAKE
This is my family's favorite fruitcake. Even people who don't care for fruitcake seem to like this one. The chill time is included in the cook time. ***NOTE*** Vegetarians should use vegetarian marshmallows.
Provided by Mysterygirl
Categories Dessert
Time 4h10m
Yield 1 loaf, 16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Combined graham cracker crumbs, coconut, cherries, pecans and pineapple in large bowl.
- Mix well.
- Mix marshmallows& milk in top of a double boiler.
- Stir constantly until marshmallows are melted.
- Pour over dry mixture and stir till well blended.
- Line loaf pan with foil.
- Press fruit cake mixture into pan forming a loaf.
- Chill for at least 3-4 hours.
- Slice and enjoy.
Tips:
- Use high-quality, fresh ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of the fruitcake.
- Soak the dried fruits in alcohol for at least 24 hours before using. This will help to plump them up and make them more flavorful.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This will help to incorporate air into the batter, making the fruitcake lighter and more tender.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. This will help to prevent the batter from curdling.
- Fold in the dry ingredients gradually, until just combined. Overmixing can toughen the fruitcake.
- Pour the batter into a prepared pan and bake according to the recipe instructions. Be sure to cool the fruitcake completely before frosting or storing.
Conclusion:
Carolyn's Christmas Fruitcake is a delicious and festive treat that is perfect for the holiday season. With its rich, flavorful ingredients and moist, tender texture, this fruitcake is sure to be a hit with everyone who tries it. So if you're looking for a special holiday treat, be sure to give Carolyn's Christmas Fruitcake a try.
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