Best 7 Moms Fruitcake Recipes

WORLD'S BEST FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• The Day Before Baking: Combine the dried fruit in a large mixing bowl. Add the dark rum, cover, and allow the mixture to soak at room temperature for a minimum of 12 hours, or ideally 24 hours prior to preparing the fruit cake batter.
• Prepare the Fruitcake: Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) with a rack in the center position. Set aside two 8x4-inch All Clad Pro-Release Bakeware Loaf Pans. If using these pans, you do not need to line or grease the pans prior to adding the batter. Equipment Note: This fruitcake can also be prepared using 9x5-inch loaf pans. If using other types of pans, lightly grease and line with parchment paper.
• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the all purpose flour, baking powder, spices, and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the softened butter and light brown sugar together over medium-high speed for 3 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to medium and add the eggs one at a time, beating just until each egg is incorporated. The mixture will look slightly broken, that's ok.
• Over low speed, slowly add the flour mixture until just absorbed. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer. Add the lemon zest, orange zest, fresh orange juice, grated apple, slivered almonds, diced candied ginger, soaked dried fruit mixture (along with any liquid if it hasn't already been absorbed), and chocoate (if using). Stir mixture with a large spatula, scraping the edges and bottom of the bowl several times, until all of the ingredients are evenly incorporated. It is a very thick, fruit heavy mixture.
• Transfer and divide the batter evenly among the loaf pans. Use an offset spatula to smooth the batter into an even layer. Set the loaf pans on the center rack, several inches apart from one another. Bake - rotating the pans halfway - for 75 to 90 minutes or until the batter is set and the tops are golden brown. The edges of the cake may also start to pull away slightly from the edges of the pan. Remove from the oven and place on a rack to cool completely before removing from the pans.
• Storing and Aging: Once the cake has cooled, carefully remove the cakes from the loaf pans and set upright. Soak two large pieces of cheesecloth in medium sherry or triple sec (*they should be lightly damp, not soaking wet when you wrap the cakes, so you may need to squeeze out any excess liquor). Wrap each cake tightly. Cover loafs with wax paper and foil before transferring to a large Ziploc bag. Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 to 8 weeks (it can often last even longer). You can serve this cake right after it has cooled, but the flavors improve greatly with time (I recommend several days or up to a week, at minimum). Unwrap and re-soak the cheesecloth once a week.
• For Garnishing: If desired, you can top the fruitcake with a light apricot glaze and whole pecans before serving. Note: I don't recommend glazing the cake if you wish to continue to wrap and age the fruitcake. To Prepare the Glaze: Combine the apricot preserves and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a light simmer, stirring until the glaze is shiny and thin. If it is too thin for glazing, reduce to desired consistency. If it becomes too thick, add a teaspoon of water. Brush the tops of the fruitcakes with apricot glaze and garnish with whole pecans.
• Serving Notes: Slice fruit cake with a serrated knife. Serve on its own or spread with a small amount of salted butter.

MOM'S FAVORITE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 300 deg F. Cut piece of waxpaper to sit in bottom of a 9x5 loaf pan. Spray pan, set wax paper in, then spray bottom and sides of pan.
• 2. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together. Stir in nuts, dates and cherries.
• 3. In separate bowl, beat eggs until foamy; then stir in the vanilla. Pour liquids into flour mixture and stir until just combined; press into loaf pan...and you really will have to press it in as there is only enough batter to hold everything together. Don't worry...it works.
• 4. Bake for 1 hr 45 min. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire rack and poke holes in bottom of cake with toothpick. Brush rum over bottom and sides, letting it seep into cake. Cool. Wrap in foil. Refrigerate for 24 hours. Keeps 3 weeks in refrigerator.

GRANDMA'S MOLASSES FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°. Grease and flour three 9x5-in. loaf pans. Line bottoms with waxed paper; grease and flour the paper. Combine currants, raisins, walnuts, candied citron and 1/4 cup flour. Toss to coat; set aside., Cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in molasses. In another bowl, whisk baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and remaining flour; add to creamed mixture alternately with coffee. Stir into currant mixture and mix well., Transfer to prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours. Cool in pans 10 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely. Wrap tightly and store in the refrigerator for at least 2 days to blend flavors. Slice and bring to room temperature before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

GRANDMA'S FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• You will use one 9x5" loaf pan for this. Spray inside with non stick spray lightly and shake some flour in while patting it around so it slides out nicely when done. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
• In a bowl whisk sugar, eggs, vanilla together and then add softened butter and whisk until smooth.
• In another bowl whisk together dry ingredients. Then slowly incorporate this into your butter, wet, mixture.
• Gently fold in fruit and pecans so it is incorporated nicely. Then pour batter into your pan and bake for 1 hour 10 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes, then loosen slides with a knife and slide out. Set that on your cooling rack to completely cool.
• Slice and serve.

MOM'S CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE COOKIES

Steps:

• The day before: chop dates into small pieces and put in a glass bowl. Add rum. Cover with plastic wrap. Let sit for 8 hours, or overnight, to absorb the rum. You can leave this step out if you want but I find it makes the dates more delicious and the cookies have more flavor.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Dice candied cherries and pineapple into small pieces and place in a very large bowl; I use the top of my cake carrier. Add pecans, followed by dates. Add 1 cup flour. Toss well to coat all of the pieces and break them up so they are not sticking together.
• Whisk baking soda into the milk and let it dissolve.
• Mix shortening into the fruit. Add remaining flour, sugar, eggs, orange juice, nutmeg, salt, and milk-baking soda mixture. Mix together with your hands just until you no longer see the flour. Try not to overmix. The batter will be very dense.
• Use a small ice cream scoop or two teaspoons to drop the cookies onto the prepared pans, about 1 inch apart.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on wire cooling racks.

MOM'S FRUITCAKE ROCKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Cream butter and sugar.
• Add eggs and cream.
• Slowly mix in flour and juice or wine.
• Add fruit and mix well.
• Be sure that the fruit is chopped in large chunks.
• Add nuts and mix.
• Drop by large tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake until brown.
• (Mother never timed, she just knew. I am estimating the time to be 20 minutes per cookie sheet, but this could vary depending on size of cookies).

MOM'S FAVORITE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°.
• Mix all ingredients together except milk.
• Add milk and mix well.
• Spray two loaf pans.
• Press mixture into loaf pans.
• Bake for 1 1/2 hours.
• NOTE: if using the smaller disposable loaf pans you should be able to get 3 loaves.