Indulge in a timeless holiday tradition with our exquisite Jeweltone Brandied Fruitcake, a masterpiece of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. This delectable cake is a symphony of dried fruits, nuts, and spices, soaked in brandy and baked to perfection. With its vibrant colors and rich, boozy taste, this fruitcake is a feast for the eyes and the palate. Discover the art of creating this classic dessert with our step-by-step recipe, ensuring a moist and flavorful cake that will become a cherished part of your holiday celebrations. Embark on a culinary journey as we explore variations of this timeless recipe, including a gluten-free version for those with dietary restrictions. Let your creativity shine as you personalize your fruitcake with unique combinations of dried fruits, nuts, and spices, creating a truly bespoke holiday treat.
Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!
BRANDY-AGED FRUITCAKE
Traditional Aged Fruitcake with dried fruits, spice and lots of brandy. This cake should be made at least 4 weeks before serving and can be made 3-4 months ahead of time. Serve unadorned or with the marzipan and fondant to finish.
Provided by Eileen Gray
Categories Cakes/Cupcakes Recipes
Time 13h25m
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- Combine all the nuts and dried fruits with the lemon zest and juice. Add the 2/3 cup of brandy and toss to coat the fruit and nuts with the liquor. Cover the bowl and let it sit overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a 9" cake pan with a parchment round. (see note)
- Sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon,nutmeg, ginger and salt. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and aerated. Scrape down the bowl and the beater. Add the eggs, two at a time. Mix until combined then scrape down the bowl and the beater.
- With the mixer running on low speed, add the dry ingredients in 3 batches and mix until combined. Fold in the soaked fruit and all the liquid.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and spread it out to an even layer. Bake until a toothpick poked in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 55 minutes. As soon as the pan is removed from the oven pour 1/4 cup of brandy over the top of the cake.
- Cool the cake to room temperature before removing from the pan. Wrap the cake in two layers of plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature.
- Once a week for at least 4 weeks, unwrap the cake and generously brush on all sides with more brandy.
- Unwrap the cake. Glue the cake to a cardboard cake circle using a dab of royal icing. Trim the cake cardboard to the same size as the cake. Place on another cardboard circle or serving plate. Ice the cake with apricot preserves.
- Roll the marzipan to a 14" round. Roll the marzipan onto the rolling pin then transfer and unroll onto the cake. Trim the marzipan flush with the bottom of the cake and board. Brush the marzipan with brandy.
- Roll the fondant to a 14" round and cover the cake over the marzipan. Trim the fondant flush with the bottom of the cake and board.
- Add dragees, stencils, glitter and marzipan holly or other decorations as you like.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 296 calories, Carbohydrate 42 grams carbohydrates, Cholesterol 45 milligrams cholesterol, Fat 11 grams fat, Protein 4 grams protein, SaturatedFat 4 grams saturated fat, ServingSize 1 slice, Sodium 93 milligrams sodium, Sugar 34 grams sugar
THE BEST FRUITCAKE
Fruitcakes have become the punchline of many a holiday joke, but this recipe will give the notorious seasonal gift a whole new reputation. Filled with loads of real dried fruit and nuts along with brandy, warm spices and citrus, this cake tastes like the holidays. The recipe makes two loaves so you can gift one.
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 14h30m
Yield 2 loaves
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- Combine the raisins, currants, apricots, figs, prunes, dates, walnuts, pecans, orange zest, lemon zest, candied ginger, pumpkin pie spice and cloves in a large bowl and toss to combine. Add 1 cup of the brandy, orange liqueur and molasses and stir to coat. Cover and set aside to macerate overnight. (Alternatively, cover the bowl and microwave 2 minutes, or until very hot. Leave covered and let sit until almost all the liquid has been absorbed into the fruit and nuts, about 2 hours.)
- Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Spray two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray and line each with 2 pieces of parchment, one lengthwise and one crosswise, leaving a 2-inch overhang on each side. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
- Sprinkle 1/2 cup flour over the soaked fruit mixture and toss to coat. Whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
- Cream the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to medium-low and beat in the flour mixture until the batter is blended and smooth. Pour the batter over the fruit mixture and fold with a rubber spatula until all the fruit is coated in batter.
- Divide the mixture evenly between the two prepared pans, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake until the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the pans, the tops spring back slightly when pressed and a cake tester comes out clean, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack and brush with the remaining 2 tablespoons brandy. Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 15 minutes. Carefully remove each cake from its pan using the parchment overhang and place on the rack to cool completely.
- To store, wrap each loaf tightly in plastic and then foil. The wrapped fruitcakes can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.
CHEESECAKE FACTORY'S J. W. PINK LEMONADE
Make and share this Cheesecake Factory's J. W. Pink Lemonade recipe from Food.com.
Provided by AmandaMcG
Categories Beverages
Time 3m
Yield 1 drink, 1 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Moisten the rim of a 16-ounce glass. Dip the rim in sugar then fill it with ice.
- Add the ingredients in the order listed, garnish with a lemon wedge, and serve with a straw.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 166.5, Fat 0.1, Sodium 7.2, Carbohydrate 17.8, Sugar 17, Protein 0.1
HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE
This is my own fruitcake recipe and it's a family favorite. The mixture of fruits and nuts helps make it a tasty treat. -Allene Spence, Delbarton, West Virginia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 2h20m
Yield 16 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 300°. Combine fruit and nuts. In another bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Pour over fruit and nuts; stir to coat. , Transfer to a greased and floured 10-in. tube pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 2 hours. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Wrap tightly and store in a cool place. Bring to room temperature before serving; slice with a serrated knife.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 686 calories, Fat 32g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 58mg cholesterol, Sodium 342mg sodium, Carbohydrate 92g carbohydrate (61g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 10g protein.
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.
FRUITCAKE
This is my 90-year-old grandmother's recipe. Very simple.
Provided by Roxy
Categories Desserts Specialty Dessert Recipes Liqueur Dessert Recipes Brandy
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C). Grease and flour a tube pan.
- In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, soda, spices, eggs, lemon rind, vanilla, 1/2 cup brandy, fruit, nuts, and melted butter or margarine. Mix thoroughly. Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake for 1 hour, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
- Wrap cooled cake in foil. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons brandy over the cake everyday for 2 weeks.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 639.3 calories, Carbohydrate 71.9 g, Cholesterol 92.3 mg, Fat 27 g, Fiber 3.7 g, Protein 7.5 g, SaturatedFat 12.9 g, Sodium 377.8 mg, Sugar 36 g
Tips:
- Prepare ingredients in advance: Ensure all ingredients are measured and prepared before beginning. This will streamline the baking process.
- Use fresh, high-quality dried fruit: Opt for plump, moist dried fruit for optimal flavor and texture.
- Soak fruit in alcohol: Soaking the fruit in brandy or another alcohol plumps it up and infuses it with boozy flavor.
- Use a quality brandy: A good-quality brandy will enhance the flavor of the fruitcake.
- Toast the nuts: Toasting nuts deepens their flavor and adds a delightful crunch.
- Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy: This will help incorporate air into the batter, resulting in a lighter, more tender cake.
- Gradually add the eggs: Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. This will prevent the batter from curdling.
- Fold in the dry ingredients: Gently fold in the flour mixture until just combined. Overmixing can result in a tough cake.
- Bake the fruitcake in a low oven: A low oven temperature helps prevent the cake from overcooking and becoming dry.
- Cool the cake completely before storing: Allow the fruitcake to cool completely before wrapping it in plastic wrap and storing it in a cool, dry place.
Conclusion:
The Jeweltone Brandied Fruitcake is an exquisite holiday treat that combines the flavors of dried fruit, nuts, brandy, and warm spices. With careful preparation and attention to detail, you can create a delicious and visually stunning centerpiece for your holiday table. This fruitcake is best enjoyed after aging for several weeks, allowing the flavors to meld and mature. So, plan ahead and indulge in the rich, decadent taste of this classic holiday confection.
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