Best Chocolate Fruitcake Recipes

CHOCOLATE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Put the butter, sugar, chocolate, brandy, vanilla and dried fruits into a large saucepan. Heat gently, stirring occasionally until everything has melted together. Remove from the heat.
• Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Line a deep cake tin, 20cm round or 18cm square, with a double layer of baking parchment. Wrap a few layers of newspaper around the outside and secure with string.
• Mix the flour, almonds, cocoa and spice together. Stir the eggs into the slightly cooled chocolate mixture in the saucepan, followed by the flour mixture. Scrape into your prepared tin and bake for 1½ hrs- 1 hr 45 mins or until a skewer poked in comes out clean. Cool in the tin, then decorate (see 'Goes well with', right, for decoration ideas). Greaseproof-wrapped cake will keep for 2 months in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE CHIP FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat eggs and sugar. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to sugar mixture and mix well. Fold in pecans, dates, cherries and chocolate chips. Pour into a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake at 325° for 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

WHITE CHOCOLATE FRUITCAKE BARS

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.

CHOCOLATE CHIP FRUITCAKE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 8-inch square pan with cooking spray. Break up 2/3 of cookie dough into pan. With floured fingers, press dough evenly in bottom of pan to form crust.
• Break up remaining 1/3 of dough into small bowl. Add candied fruit and flour; mix well. Spread jam over dough in pan. Sprinkle with candied fruit mixture; press lightly into jam.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Lightly dust with powdered sugar. Cut into bars.
• Line the pan with foil, allowing enough foil to make the bars easy to lift and transfer to a flat surface for cutting.

CHOCOLATE CHIP CHERRY FRUITCAKE LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 F and have ready a greased 9x5" loaf pan.
• Beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl until well combined.
• In another large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
• Add flour mixture to egg mixture and mix well.
• Add nuts, dates or raisins, 1 cup cherry halves,& the chocolate chips and stir gently to combine.
• Pour into a greased 9x5" loaf pan(mixture will be very thick).
• Garnish top with a row of cherry halves down the center of the batter- press gently so they stick.
• Bake in a preheated 325 F oven for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until golden and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out mostly clean (there will be streaks of melted chocolate but not gobs of beige batter) - DO NOT OVERBAKE or it will be as hard as a rock.
• Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool completely.
• Usually I slice the loaf after it has cooled and seal it in a plastic zip-top bag, which helps keep it from hardening up.

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (180C.).
• A day or so before you make the cake, toss the cherries in 1/4 cup liquor. Cover, and let macerate (soak up the liquor).
• To bake the cakes, grease two 9-inch(23cm)loaf pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper and dust with cocoa powder.
• Sift together the flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer, or by hand,.
• beat the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy. Stir together the eggs and yolk with the vanilla, then dribble them in while beating.
• Mix in one-third of the flour/cocoa mixture, then half of the buttermilk or yogurt. Then mix in another third of the dry ingredients, then the rest of the yogurt or buttermilk. Finally, add the remaining dry ingredients, and gently stir in the nuts, chocolate chips and cherries.(which should have absorbed all the liquid. If not, add that as well.).
• Divide and smooth the batter into the prepared loaf pans and bake for 45 minutes, or unril a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand on the counter-top for about 15 minutes.
• With a skewer, poke about 50 holes in the cake and spoon 3 tablespoons of liquor over each cake. Let cool.

MODERN TWIST ON FRUITCAKE W/ WHITE CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE ICING

Steps:

• Beat butter, sugar, salt, eggs, milk, rum, and baking powder till well mixed.
• Add in flour and mix well.
• Gently fold in the fruit, nuts, and chocolate chips.
• Pour into a buttered and floured 9 1/2" by 5 1/2" bread pan.
• Bake in preheated 350°F oven until browned or about 60-75 minutes.
• Let stand in pan a few minutes then remove and place on rack to cool completely.
• While cooling melt white chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave.
• Combine frosting ingredients and beat well with mixer.
• Frost cool cake and let it flow over the sides.
• Can garnish with leftover fruit, nuts, or maraschino cherries cut into shapes.
• Freezes well but I prefer mine without the icing until it's thawed or it ends up separating and getting icky.

CHOCOLATE-ORANGE FRUITCAKE WITH PECANS

Steps:

• For cake:
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 325°F. Generously butter and flour 12-cup angel food cake pan. Combine toasted pecans, chopped dried figs, prunes, dates, orange juice concentrate, Grand Marnier and grated orange peel in large bowl. Let stand 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Sift flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt into medium bowl. Combine brown sugar and 6 ounces chocolate in processor and chop into small pieces.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter and cream cheese in large bowl to blend. Add chocolate mixture and beat until fluffy. Beat in eggs 1 at a time. Beat in prune butter. Stir in 1/4 of dry ingredients. Mix in fruit mixture and remaining dry ingredients in 3 additions each.
• Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake cake until tester inserted near center with a few moist crumbs attached, about 1 hour 55 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Turn pan over onto rack; let stand 5 minutes. Lift off pan; cool cake completely. Wrap cake in plastic and store at room temperature 2 days.
• For Glaze:
• Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over low heat. Add chocolate; stir until melted and smooth. Whisk in orange juice concentrate.
• Place cake on rack. Spread some of chocolate glaze thickly over top and sides of cake. Refrigerate 15 minutes. Spread remaining chocolate glaze over cake, covering completely. Sprinkle with chopped candied fruit peel, if desired. Refrigerate cake 30 minutes to set glaze. (Fruitcake can be prepared 3 weeks ahead. Wrap cake in plastic and refrigerate.)

CHOCOLATE-COVERED FRUITCAKE BALLS

Steps:

• In a food processor grind the fruitcake until it forms a ball, scoop up rounded teaspoons of it, and with dampened hands form them into balls. Let the balls stand, uncovered, in a jelly-roll pan lined with wax paper for 30 minutes. In a small metal bowl set in a saucepan of barely simmering water melt the chocolate, stirring until it is smooth, and remove the bowl from the pan. Balancing the fruitcake balls, 1 at a time, on the tines of a fork, dip them into the chocolate, letting the excess drip off, and transfer them to the wax paper, reserving the remaining chocolate for another use. Chill the balls for 30 minutes, or until the chocolate is hardened. The fruitcake balls keep, covered and chilled, for 1 week.

CHOCOLATE CHIP FRUITCAKE BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 8-inch square pan with cooking spray. Break up 2/3 of cookie dough into pan. With floured fingers, press dough evenly in bottom of pan to form crust.
• Break up remaining 1/3 of dough into small bowl. Add candied fruit and flour; mix well. Spread jam over dough in pan. Sprinkle with candied fruit mixture; press lightly into jam.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Lightly dust with powdered sugar. Cut into bars.

RICH CHOCOLATE DRAMBUIE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Combine fruit and 1 cup(250 ml)of Drambuie,honey and lemon rind,mix well,cover and stand overnight(I left it for ten days!).
• Grease a 6 hole Texas muffin pan(3/4 cup capacity)AND line base and sides of a deep 25cm round OR 19 cm square pan with 2 layers of baking paper and bring the paper 5 cm above edges of pan.
• Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl with electric mixer until just combined,add eggs one at a time,beating until just combined.
• Stir in fruit mixture,chocolate,nuts,then sifted flours and cocoa in halves,mix well.
• Place level 3/4 cups of mixture into each hole of the pan.spread remainder into other pan,decorate tops with extra pecans or cherries if desired.
• Muffins take 1+1/2 hours in a very slow oven,cake slow oven 3 hours.
• Brush hot cakes with remainder of Drambuie and cover tightly with foil.

WHITE CHOCOLATE ORANGE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Note: For dried fruits, use only nectarines, peaches, pears, apricots or apples; do not use figs, dates or raisins.
• In a medium bowl, combine dried fruits and 2/3 cup Grand Marnier; let stand several hours or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Line a 9-inch springform pan with a round of waxed paper cut to fit the bottom; butter bottom and sides of pan, dust with flour, then tap out excess flour; set aside.
• To make batter, in a large bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Beat in vanilla, orange zest and cinnamon.
• Add white chocolate and beat until mixture is light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add 1 cup flour and beat until well blended.
• Add remaining 2 tablespoons flour and 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans to fruit mixture and toss to coat well.
• Add to batter and mix thoroughly.
• Turn batter into prepared pan and smooth top.
• Set springform pan in a larger baking pan and add enough hot water to reach 1 inch up side of springform pan.
• Bake 1 hour and 20 to 30 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in center of cake comes out clean; if top is browning too quickly, cover springform with foil the last 1/2 hour of baking.
• Remove springform pan from water bath.
• Sprinkle remaining 1/3 cup Grand Marnier over top of cake and let cool in pan.
• When completely cool, run a sharp knife around edges of pan to loosen cake.
• Remove springform side of pan.
• Carefully remove cake from bottom of pan; peel off wax paper.
• Wrap cake in plastic wrap, then wrap in foil.
• Refrigerate at least 2 to 3 days or up to 2 weeks before serving.
• For longer storage, freeze cake.
• Do not frost at this time.
• To make the white chocolate topping, in a 1 quart glass bowl, heat cream in a microwave oven on high 30-45 seconds, or until very hot.
• Stir in white chocolate, mixing well.
• Return to microwave and heat on medium for 30 to 60 seconds, or until chocolate is melted when stirred.
• Stir in Grand Marnier.
• Cover and refrigerate until glaze thickens to spreading consistency.
• An hour before serving time, unwrap cake and frost evenly with White Chocolate Topping.
• Garnish edge of top of cake with apricot halves.
• Sprinkle additional chopped pecans over center of cake.
• Return to refrigerator until serving time.

FRUITCAKE JUNKYARD BROWNIE WITH SPICED ORANGE LIQUEUR AND WHITE CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• For the fruitcake junkyard brownie: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease six 4-inch mini pie tins (each 3/4-inch deep) with butter and set on a rimmed baking sheet. Line a second baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
• Cube the fruit cake and lay it out on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until dry and crispy, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.
• Add the dried toasted fruitcake to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until pulverized. Add the fruitcake crumbs, cocoa powder and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on medium until combined. Add the eggs, vanilla and butter and continue mixing until completely combined. With the mixer running, add the flour mixture until completely combined. Divide the batter evenly among the pie tins, leaving about 1/4-inch of room at the top.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with fudge crumbs, about 45 minutes. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes and turn out onto serving plates.
• For the spiced orange liqueur and white chocolate ganache: Place the white chocolate chips in a medium heat-proof bowl. Heat the cream and orange liquor in a small saucepan over medium-high heat to a bare simmer. Pour the mixture over the chips and allow to sit for a couple minutes to melt. Stir together, and then stir in the cinnamon and cloves.
• Finely dice the candied fruit, if using. Spoon or drizzle some of the white chocolate ganache over each brownie and sprinkle with the diced fruit to serve.

FAST 'N FABULOUS CHOCOLATE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir wet ingredients together.
• In another bowl, combine dry ingredients. Stir into wet ingredients. Fold in chocolate.
• Divide batter between two greased 9x5 loat pans or one 10-inch bundt pan.
• Bake in preheated 300F oven for 70-75 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes. Removed from pans (pan) and cool completely.
• VARIATION: For double chocolate fruitcake - Reduce all-purpose flour to 2 1/4 cups. Add 1/3 cup sifted unsweetened cocoa powder to dry inredients. Proceed as per recipe.

CHOCOLATE FRUITCAKE COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. In a medium size bowl, mix dried fuit, zest and juice of orange, rum and apple juice, cover. Microwave for 5 min. stir and cover and let set until cool.
• 2. With a mixer cream butter and both sugars, then add eggs 1 at a time, then the vanilla.
• 3. In a large bowl mix all the dry ingredients together with a whisk. Add to creamed mixture slowly until combined.
• 4. Now add the cooled fruit, coconut, nuts and chips. Mixing until just combined.
• 5. Using a cookie scoop or spoon, place dough on a parchment lined cookie sheep, 12 to a pan. Bake 18 min. at 375*. Let cool on pan for 10 min. then remove to wire rack and mist with the rum
• 6. Pack these into a plastic container and place in your refrigerator. Like fruitcake they taste better with age..you just don't have to wait 3 weeks before you can enjoy them.

CHOCOLATE FRUITCAKE COOKIES

Steps:

• Finely chop walnuts, almonds, raisins, orange and lemon peel, cherries, and ginger.
• Melt butter in a saucepan, then add sugar and stir over low heat until sugar is dissolved.
• Bring to a boil and let it boil for 1 minute without stirring (until just turning light golden).
• Remove from heat and mix well with cream and fruit-nut mixture.
• Mix cake mix with two eggs and oil.
• Combine all ingredients.
• Scoop a heaping spoonful of dough onto cookies sheet lined with foil.
• Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 10 - 12 minutes.
• Enjoy!

BRANDIED CHOCOLATE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Combine candied pineapple, cherries, raisins, and 1/2 cup brandy in a small bowl. Cover and let stand overnight.
• Drain the fruit, reserving 1/3 cup brandy. (If the fruit has absorbed most of the brandy, reserve what you can and add more to make 1/3 cup.) Set fruit and brandy aside.
• Spray two 9"x5" loaf pans liberally with baking spray.
• Melt baking chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Set aside to cool.
• Cream the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer. Gradually add one cup sugar and blend well.
• Beat in the egg yolks two at a time, scraping down after each addition. Beat in cooled chocolate.
• Resift the flour with baking powder and add to the batter alternately with the reserved brandy. Stir in the fruit and nuts.
• Beat egg whites until they just begin to hold their shape. Then add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, beating until soft peaks form. Fold about 1/4 of the egg whites into the batter, then gently (but thoroughly) fold in the remaining egg whites.
• Turn batter into prepared pans and place loaf pans in a roasting pan (or other baking pan). Pour enough boiling water in the outer pans to come about halfway up the sides of the loaf pans.
• Bake at 250 for 2.5 hours, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Cool fruitcakes for 15 minutes, then remove from pans. Pour a few tablespoonfuls of brandy over each cake. Cool thoroughly.
• Wrap each loaf individually in plastic wrap or cheesecloth, then wrap in foil. Store for 2-8 weeks in the refrigerator before serving. Sprinkle the cakes with brandy 2-4 times during the waiting period.
• If you want to top the cake with a glaze (I never did), combine 1.5 cups powdered sugar, 3-4 tablespoons of whipping cream, and 1/4 teaspoons almond extract; blend until smooth, then spread evenly over cake.

CHOCOLATE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Line the sides and bottom of an 8 by 3 1/2-inch deep, round loose-bottomed cake tin with a layer of reusable silicon baking parchment. When lining the tin with the parchment, cut the material into strips that are twice as high as the tin itself (it is easier to use two shorter strips of parchment, than one long strip); the height of the strips protects the cake from catching on the outside of the cake tin.
• Place the fruit, butter, sugar, honey, coffee liqueur, orange zest and juice, mixed spice and cocoa into a large wide saucepan. Heat the mixture until it reaches a gentle boil, stirring the mixture as the butter melts. Let the mixture simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat and leave to stand for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, the mixture will have cooled a little. Add the eggs, flour, ground almonds, baking powder and baking soda, and mix well with a wooden spoon or spatula until the ingredients have combined.
• Carefully pour the fruitcake mixture into the lined cake tin. Transfer the cake tin to the oven and bake for 1 3/4 to 2 hours, or until the top of the cake is firm but will has a shiny and sticky look. At this point, if you insert a sharp knife into the middle of the cake, the cake should still be a little uncooked in the middle.
• Place the cake on a cooling rack. Once the cake has cooled, remove it from the tin.
• To decorate, place the chocolate-covered coffee beans in the centre of the cake and arrange edible gold stars around the perimeter of the top of the cake (if you can find them- not listed in ingredients as Zaar will not accept). Then sprinkle some gold mini-balls over the whole cake and sprinkle the top with edible glitter.