Christmas is a time for joy, family, and of course, delicious food. One of the most popular holiday treats is fruitcake, a dense, moist cake filled with dried fruits, nuts, and spices. While traditional fruitcake can be time-consuming to make, these Christmas fruitcake bars offer a quick and easy alternative. Made with a simple batter and packed with your favorite dried fruits and nuts, these bars are sure to be a hit at your next holiday gathering.
Here are our top 8 tried and tested recipes!
HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE BARS
No time to make a fruitcake for the holidays? This quick bar cookie will satisfy your cravings. This recipe combines the best of several recipes I've tried over the years.
Provided by justcallmetoni
Categories Bar Cookie
Time 40m
Yield 3 dozen, 36 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Beat eggs with a mixer until they are golden yellow and doubled in volume - 2 or 3 minutes.
- Add in 1 cup sifted powdered sugar and vanilla.
- Mix together flour, baking powder and salt.
- Take 2 tablespoons of flour mixture and stir in with candied fruit, nuts and currants, to keep fruit from clumping in the batter.
- Add the rest of the flour mix to the eggs and sugar.
- Fold fruit and nuts into batter.
- Spoon batter into a well greased 11" by 7" pan.
- Some years I use parchment paper instead.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
- Mix together rum and second cup of powdered sugar to make a glaze.
- Spread the icing onto the bars about 5 minutes after they've come out of the oven.
- Let bars cool and cut into bars.
FRUITCAKE BARS
"This recipe has been a family favorite for years," tells Terry Mercede of Danbury, Connecticut. "People who declare they won't eat fruitcake love these bars! They're so easy to make...and they're colorful, too - chock-full of candied pineapple and red and green cherries."
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h
Yield 8 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in vanilla. Add flour and walnuts; mix well. Spread evenly into a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Sprinkle with pineapple, cherries and dates; press lightly into dough. , Bake at 325° for 45-50 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 87 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 10mg cholesterol, Sodium 21mg sodium, Carbohydrate 13g carbohydrate (10g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 1g protein.
CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE BARS
I have baked this cookie every Christmas for at least 25 years. I've had the recipe for so long, I don't even remember where it came from! -Jeaune Hadl, Lexington, Kentucky
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 35m
Yield 2 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°. Beat butter, sugar and eggs until fluffy. Add biscuit mix. Stir in candied fruit, pecans and coconut., Spoon into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar.
Nutrition Facts :
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 BARS
Bake these brandy-spiked bars up to two days ahead, and cut just before serving.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cookie Recipes
Time 1h15m
Yield Makes 24
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with butter. Line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides; butter paper, and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour and salt; set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, heat brandy until simmering. Remove from heat, and stir in fruit; cool to room temperature. Toss brandied fruit with 1 cup flour mixture; set aside.
- Using an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition; mix in vanilla. With mixer on low, add remaining flour mixture; mix just until combined. Fold in fruit mixture; transfer batter to prepared pan, and smooth top.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool in pan for 1 hour. Using paper overhang, lift out of pan; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely (still on paper). Invert fruitcake, and peel off paper; flip upright, and cut into 24 diamonds with a serrated knife. Dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired.
FESTIVE FRUITCAKE BARS
Fruitcake bars deliver the same great flavors of fruitcake with much less time and work.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Dessert
Time 1h55m
Yield 24
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour rectangular pan, 13x9x2 inches. In large bowl, mix 1 cup flour, the brown sugar, butter, orange peel, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and egg with spoon.
- In medium bowl, mix 1/4 cup flour, the cherries, dates and pecans; stir into brown sugar mixture. Spread in pan.
- Bake about 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
- In 1-quart saucepan, heat all Orange Glaze ingredients over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens slightly. Drizzle cooled bars with glaze. For bars, cut into 8 rows by 3 rows.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 220, Carbohydrate 37 g, Cholesterol 20 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 2 g, Protein 2 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, ServingSize 1 Bar, Sodium 130 mg
WHITE CHOCOLATE FRUITCAKE BARS
These cookie bars are studded with the best parts of traditional fruitcake (orange zest and dried fruit) and spiced up with lots of fresh ginger. The white chocolate drizzle creates a blank canvas that's perfect for sprinkles and/or sanding sugar.
Provided by Tara O'Brady
Categories Cookies Holiday 2018 Dessert Butter Almond Egg Orange Ginger Vanilla Cranberry Coconut Chocolate White Chocolate Christmas Bake
Yield Makes about 30
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Make the Shortbread:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8" square metal pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on all sides. Butter parchment.
- Whisk flour, almonds, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
- Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed (or use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), beat granulated sugar and 1 1/4 cups butter in a large bowl, scraping down sides, until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to medium, add egg, and beat until incorporated, about 1 minute more. Scrape down sides of bowl. Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in orange zest, ginger, and vanilla.
- With the mixer running on low speed, add dry ingredients and beat just until combined with some visible flour remaining. Add cranberries, coconut, and chocolate. Beat just until incorporated. Scrape down sides of bowl, then fold dough once or twice with a spatula.
- Scrape dough into prepared pan. Using dampened fingers or a damp offset spatula, press dough evenly into pan. Bake shortbread until lightly golden brown and set, 25-30 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool.
- Do Ahead: Shortbread can be baked 2 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
- Make the Glaze and Assemble:
- Heat chocolate, oil, and salt in a small heatproof bowl in a microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth and glossy, about 1 minute total. Set aside 2 Tbsp. glaze, then pour remaining glaze over cooled shortbread in pan, spreading to the edges. Let sit at room temperature until set (if you're impatient, chill 10-15 minutes).
- Run a paring knife around edge of pan to release, then remove shortbread from pan using parchment overhang. Slice into bars. To slice into diamonds, cut into five 1 1/2" strips, then slice each strip on the bias into 1" diamonds.
- Rewarm reserved glaze and drizzle over bars in stripes with a spoon. Top with sprinkles. Let sit at room temperature until set (or chill for 8-10 minutes).
- Do Ahead: Bars can be made 5 days ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
SPICED FRUITCAKE BARS
Fruitcake bars are very forgiving. You can bake them months ahead, and substitute almost any fruit or nut you like for one you don't. Aim for a balance of tastes and textures, and test to see if your selections work together, just pop a small handful in your mouth.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cookie Recipes
Yield Makes 4 dozen
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- In a large nonreactive container (glass, ceramic, or plastic), combine dried fruits, honey, and Cognac; let macerate at room temperature 2 days or up to 2 weeks, covered with plastic wrap.
- Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Generously butter and flour two 8-inch square (or round) pans; tap out excess flour. Whisk to combine flour, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves in a bowl. Stir in walnuts.
- In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, and scraping down side of bowl as needed. Transfer to a large bowl. Using a flexible spatula, fold in flour-nut mixture and drained fruit mixture; stir to evenly distribute fruits and nuts.
- Divide batter between prepared pans; use an offset spatula to smooth tops. Bake until a cake tester inserted into center comes out with only a few moist crumbs attached, 2 to 2 1/4 hours. Transfer pans to wire rack to cool completely. Invert cakes onto racks to unmold. Invert again, top sides up. (Cakes can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 months.)
- Using a serrated knife, cut cake into thirds. Slice each third into 1-inch-thick slices. Bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the fruitcake bars will be. Use fresh, ripe fruit, and high-quality nuts and spices.
- Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing the batter will make the fruitcake bars tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
- Bake the fruitcake bars until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean: This will ensure that the fruitcake bars are cooked through.
- Let the fruitcake bars cool completely before cutting them into bars: This will help to prevent the fruitcake bars from crumbling.
- Store the fruitcake bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks: You can also freeze the fruitcake bars for up to 3 months.
Conclusion:
Christmas fruitcake bars are a delicious and festive treat that is perfect for the holiday season. They are easy to make and can be customized to your liking. With a little planning, you can make these fruitcake bars ahead of time and enjoy them all season long.
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