Best 5 Easiest Fruit Cake Ever Recipes

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Fruitcake is a timeless dessert enjoyed by people of all ages. It's often associated with the holidays, but it can be enjoyed year-round. With so many different recipes out there, it can be difficult to know where to start. If you're looking for an easy fruitcake recipe that will turn out delicious every time, you've come to the right place.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

WORLD'S BEST FRUIT CAKE



World's Best Fruit Cake image

A traditional moist fruit cake made with rum soaked dried fruit, citrus zest, and candied ginger. The best fruit cake recipe you'll ever make! It turns cynics into converts. This fruit cake recipe yields two (8 x 4-inch) loaf cakes. Wrap in sherry or triple sec soaked cheesecloth for at least a week for best flavor!

Provided by Laura / A Beautiful Plate

Categories     Cakes and Cupcakes

Time P1DT2h

Number Of Ingredients 28

1¼ cups (200 g) dark raisins
1¼ cups (200 g) golden raisins
2 cups (320 g) mixed unsweetened dried fruit, chopped
1 cup (160 g) dried unsweetened black figs (chopped)
1 cup (160 g) dried unsweetened tart cherries (chopped)
¾ cup (120 g) dried unsweetened prunes (chopped)
¾ cup (6 oz; 180 mL) dark rum
1½ cups (180 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt
1 stick (4 oz; 115 g) unsalted butter (softened)
¾ cup (160 g) packed light brown sugar
5 large eggs (room temperature)
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon freshly grated orange zest
½ cup (120 mL) freshly squeezed orange juice
1 Granny Smith apple (peeled and coarsely grated)
¾ cup (90 g) slivered almonds (or chopped pecans or walnuts)
3 tablespoons (36 g) finely diced crystallized ginger
one batch soaked fruit mixture (see above)
⅔ cup (100 g) chopped bittersweet chocolate or dark chocolate chips (optional)
medium sherry or triple sec (for soaking)
¼ cup (72 g) apricot preserves
¼ cup (60 mL) water
whole pecans (for garnishing)

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.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1 serving, Calories 196 kcal, Carbohydrate 36 g, Protein 3 g, Fat 5 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Cholesterol 30 mg, Sodium 58 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 26 g, UnsaturatedFat 2 g

BEST EVER FRUIT CAKE



Best Ever Fruit Cake image

This is an absolute delicious fruit cake!

Provided by watty018

Time 2h20m

Yield Serves 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

175 grams Demerera Sugar
150 grams Sultanas
125 grams Currants
150 grams Seedless Raisins
300 ml Water
73 grams Glace Cherries, quartered
125 grams Butter or Margarine plus pinch of salt
1 Egg beaten
275 grams Self Raising Flour, sieved
50 grams Blanched Almonds (optional)

Steps:

  • Put the sugar, sultanas, currants, raisins, water, cherries, butter or margarine, salt into a saucepan, bringing it to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes
  • Pour into a mixing bowl and allow to cool. Pre heat the oven to 170 degrees / Gas Mark 3
  • Grease and line with grease proof paper a 20 cm round cake tin
  • Add the egg to the cooled fruit mixture and stir in well. Add the flour and mix well
  • Turn into the prepared cake tin, smooth the top and arrange optional almonds on the top.
  • Bake for 1.25 - 1.50 hours until risen and golden brown. Cool slightly before turning out. The cake improves with keeping.

QUICK AND EASY FRUIT CAKE



Quick and Easy Fruit Cake image

This may be made with any fruit: pitted cherries, apples+pecans+cinnamon, peaches + cardamom, plums+ almonds. From Imagelicious http://www.imagelicious.com/blog/post/quick-and-easy-cake

Provided by ellie3763

Categories     Breads

Time 1h5m

Yield 1 8x8 cake, 16 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups fruit

Steps:

  • Preheat the over to 350F (180C). Butter an 8x8 baking dish.
  • In a big bowl whisk together the eggs and the sugar just until it all comes together, about 30 seconds, no more.
  • Add the flour (and baking powder if using) and wisk together just until the flour disappears and there are no more lumps, about 45 seconds, no more. The batter will be quite thick and there won't be a lot of it.
  • Spread the fruit over the bottom of the dish and spread the batter over. It will barely cover the fruit and it'll look like it's not enough, but it will be great. Alternatively you can mix the fruit with the batter.
  • Bake for 45-55 minutes depending on your oven. A toothpick inserted into the cake should come out clean when the cake is ready.

EASIEST FRUIT CAKE EVER



Easiest Fruit Cake Ever image

Easy indeed! We used vanilla wafers and were thrilled with the result.

Provided by Patsy Weaver @loveisalive65

Categories     Cakes

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 can(s) sweetened condensed milk
1 package(s) marshmallows, about 34 large
4 ounce(s) cherries, drain and chop
15 ounce(s) seedless raisins
8 ounce(s) dates, pitted and chopped
2 cup(s) pecans, chopped
1 cup(s) walnuts, chopped
1 box(es) graham crackers, crushed or vanilla wafers

Steps:

  • Mix everything except milk and marshmallows. Set aside.
  • Heat milk and marshmallows until melted. Pour over the first mixture and mix well.
  • With buttered hands press mixture into a 13 X 9 pan lined with wax paper. Refrigerate.
  • Turn out on clean cutting board and pull wax paper off. Cut into bars when ready to serve.
  • Top with (optional) spoon of whipped cream or sour cream. Good either way.

GRANDMA LEONE'S FRUIT CAKE



Grandma Leone's Fruit Cake image

Don't get this cake confused with the traditional fruit cake. It is so much more. This recipe has been handed down for 3 generations and I now want to share it with all of you. Don't get nervous with all the ingredients. Everything gets hand-mixed in 1 great big bowl.

Provided by Debbie Ries

Categories     Desserts     Cakes     Holiday Cake Recipes

Time 2h10m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 cups water
1 ½ cups raisins
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 ½ tablespoons baking powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 pound pecan halves
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1 ½ cups canola oil
4 eggs, beaten
3 cups candied fruit

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 8x8-inch baking pans.
  • Bring water and raisins to a boil in a saucepan; cook until raisins are plump, about 2 minutes. Drain and cool raisins; reserve raisin water.
  • Mix 3 cups flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl. Place pecans and 2 tablespoons flour in a resealable plastic bag; close and shake bag until pecans are coated. Pour pecans into a colander and shake off excess flour.
  • Whisk sugar, oil, eggs, and cooled raisin water together in a bowl; fold in candied fruit. Stir flour mixture, 1/2 cup at a time, into sugar mixture until fully incorporated; fold in raisins and pecans. Fill the prepared pans a little over half full.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Lower temperature to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C); bake until a knife inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 more hour.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 620.5 calories, Carbohydrate 77.7 g, Cholesterol 37.2 mg, Fat 34.5 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 5.8 g, SaturatedFat 3 g, Sodium 465.4 mg, Sugar 28.4 g

Tips:

- Use good quality, flavorful fruits. This will make all the difference in the taste of your cake. - Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the cake tough. - Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. - Let the cake cool completely before frosting it. This will help the frosting set properly. - If you don't have time to make the cake ahead of time, you can freeze it for up to 2 months. Just thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before serving.

Conclusion:

This fruit cake is a delicious and easy-to-make dessert that is perfect for any occasion. The moist and flavorful cake is packed with fresh fruit, and the sweet and tangy glaze adds a perfect finishing touch. Whether you're serving it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this fruit cake is sure to be a hit.

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