Best 3 Southern Fruitcake Recipes

Embrace the art of traditional baking with our guide to creating a delectable Southern fruitcake. This cherished holiday treat, often adorned with candied fruit, nuts, and a generous glaze, holds a special place in the hearts of many. While the process may seem daunting, our carefully curated tips and tricks will empower you to craft a fruitcake that's both visually stunning and bursting with flavor. So gather your ingredients, prepare your kitchen, and embark on a culinary journey that celebrates heritage and brings joy to your table.

Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!

SOUTHERN FRUITCAKE

Southern Fruitcake image

"I've never found anyone who didn't like this lovely fruitcake," remarks Ruth Marie Lyons of Boulder, Colorado.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories Desserts

Time 1h50m

Yield 2 loaves.

Number Of Ingredients 15

Ingredients

4 cups chopped pecans
1-3/4 cups chopped candied pineapple
1-1/2 cups chopped dried peaches or apricots
1-1/2 cups golden raisins
2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
5 eggs
1 cup peach or apricot nectar, divided
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup milk
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

Steps:

Grease and flour two 9x5-in. loaf pans. Line the bottoms with waxed paper; grease and flour the paper. Set aside., Combine the pecans, pineapple, peaches, raisins and 1/2 cup flour; set aside. , In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar; add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add 1/2 cup peach nectar, honey and milk; beat well (mixture will appear curdled). Combine cinnamon, baking powder, salt, allspice and remaining flour; add to the creamed mixture and mix well. Add pecan mixture; stir well., Pour into prepared pans. Bake at 325° for 1-1/2 hours or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. , With a skewer, poke holes in the loaves. Spoon remaining nectar over loaves. Let stand for 10 minutes; remove from pans to a wire rack to cool completely. Wrap tightly and store in a cool place. Slice and bring to room temperature before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 303 calories, Fat 17g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 49mg cholesterol, Sodium 129mg sodium, Carbohydrate 36g carbohydrate (26g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

SOUTHERN COMFORT CAKE

Southern Comfort Cake image

This is a delicious coffee cake, you might say comforting!

Provided by Debbie

Categories Desserts Cakes Cake Mix Cake Recipes Coffee Cake

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
4 eggs
½ cup milk
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup Southern Comfort liqueur
1 ½ cups chopped walnuts

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray one 9 inch bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Combine the cake mix, instant vanilla pudding, eggs, milk, oil, Southern Comfort and chopped walnuts. Beat for 2 minutes. Then pour batter into the prepared pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Let cake cool in pan for 10 minutes then invert onto a cake dish and enjoy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 448.3 calories, Carbohydrate 43.9 g, Cholesterol 63.7 mg, Fat 25.6 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 6.6 g, SaturatedFat 3.5 g, Sodium 428.6 mg, Sugar 25.8 g

SOUTHERN FRUITCAKE

Southern Fruitcake image

A very spicy, fragrant cake from the Southern chapter of the United States Regional Cookbook, Culinary Arts Institute of Chicago, 1947

Provided by Molly53

Categories Dessert

Time 4h20m

Yield 2 cakes

Number Of Ingredients 21

Ingredients

3 cups light brown sugar
3 cups butter
12 eggs, separated (room temperature)
2 cups almonds, blanched
3 cups raisins
2 cups currants
2 cups candied cherries
2 cups dried figs, chopped
2 cups dates, chopped
1 cup citron, chopped
2 cups candied pineapple
1 cup lemon peel, chopped
1 cup orange peel, chopped
3 cups flour
1/4 cup brandy
2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons mace
2 tablespoons ground cloves
2 tablespoons allspice
2 tablespoons nutmeg
1 tablespoon baking soda

Steps:

Preheat oven to 275F and grease a 10" tube pan plus a loaf pan.
Beat egg whites stiff.
Cream sugar and butter; add egg yolks and beat.
Fold in egg whites.
Sift the dry ingredients together.
Dredge the nuts and fruit with a little of the flour mixture.
Add dry ingredients to batter; fold in nuts and fruits.
Add brandy and blend thoroughly.
Pour into prepared pans and bake 3 3/4 hours to 4 hours for the tube pan; 3 to 3 1/4 hours for the loaf.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 7924.9, Fat 397.1, SaturatedFat 195.3, Cholesterol 2001.1, Sodium 4962.1, Carbohydrate 1050.5, Fiber 91.9, Sugar 741.4, Protein 116.9

Tips:

Use high-quality ingredients. This will make a big difference in the flavor of your fruitcake. Choose fresh, ripe fruit, and use real butter and sugar.
Don't overmix the batter. Overmixing can make the fruitcake tough. Mix just until the ingredients are combined.
Bake the fruitcake in a slow oven. This will help to prevent it from drying out.
Let the fruitcake cool completely before wrapping it. This will help to prevent the fruitcake from becoming soggy.
Wrap the fruitcake tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This will help to keep the fruitcake moist.
Store the fruitcake in a cool, dark place. This will help to keep the fruitcake fresh for up to 6 months.
Serve the fruitcake at room temperature. This will allow the flavors to meld together.

Conclusion:

Fruitcake is a delicious and festive holiday treat. With a little planning and effort, you can make a fruitcake that your family and friends will love. So get baking and enjoy the fruits of your labor!