Best Keep The Spirit Fruit Cake Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

THE BEST FRUITCAKE



The Best Fruitcake image

Fruitcakes have become the punchline of many a holiday joke, but this recipe will give the notorious seasonal gift a whole new reputation. Filled with loads of real dried fruit and nuts along with brandy, warm spices and citrus, this cake tastes like the holidays. The recipe makes two loaves so you can gift one.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     dessert

Time 14h30m

Yield 2 loaves

Number Of Ingredients 25

1 1/2 cups golden raisins
1/2 cup dried currants
1 cup dried apricots, halved
1 cup dried figs, halved
1/2 cup pitted prunes
1/2 cup whole pitted Medjool dates, halved
2 cups walnut halves
1 cup pecan halves
Finely grated zest of 2 small oranges
Finely grated zest of 2 small lemons
2 tablespoons chopped candied ginger
3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Pinch ground cloves
1 cup brandy, plus 2 tablespoons for brushing
1/4 cup orange liqueur
1/2 cup unsulfured molasses
Nonstick cooking spray
2 cups all-purpose flour (see Cook's Note)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups lightly packed dark brown sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Combine the raisins, currants, apricots, figs, prunes, dates, walnuts, pecans, orange zest, lemon zest, candied ginger, pumpkin pie spice and cloves in a large bowl and toss to combine. Add 1 cup of the brandy, orange liqueur and molasses and stir to coat. Cover and set aside to macerate overnight. (Alternatively, cover the bowl and microwave 2 minutes, or until very hot. Leave covered and let sit until almost all the liquid has been absorbed into the fruit and nuts, about 2 hours.)
  • Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Spray two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray and line each with 2 pieces of parchment, one lengthwise and one crosswise, leaving a 2-inch overhang on each side. Spray the parchment with cooking spray.
  • Sprinkle 1/2 cup flour over the soaked fruit mixture and toss to coat. Whisk together the remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
  • Cream the butter and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, making sure each is fully incorporated before adding the next and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to medium-low and beat in the flour mixture until the batter is blended and smooth. Pour the batter over the fruit mixture and fold with a rubber spatula until all the fruit is coated in batter.
  • Divide the mixture evenly between the two prepared pans, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake until the cakes begin to pull away from the sides of the pans, the tops spring back slightly when pressed and a cake tester comes out clean, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack and brush with the remaining 2 tablespoons brandy. Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 15 minutes. Carefully remove each cake from its pan using the parchment overhang and place on the rack to cool completely.
  • To store, wrap each loaf tightly in plastic and then foil. The wrapped fruitcakes can be stored in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.

GRANDMA'S FRUIT COCKTAIL CAKE



Grandma's Fruit Cocktail Cake image

Serve this old-fashioned Fruit Cocktail Cake up for dessert or invite your friends for coffee! Made from scratch, NO box mix needed!

Provided by Kathleen

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 large eggs (lightly beaten)
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 can (16-ounce) fruit cocktail with syrup (undrained)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar (firmly packed)
1 cup sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
3/4 cup pecans (chopped)
Reddi Wip
maraschino cherries

Steps:

  • Adjust an oven rack to medium position. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9X13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a large mixing bowl, stir together all cake ingredients until well combined. Pour into prepared baking dish and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  • Meanwhile, make the topping by combining all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue to boil, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Pour over hot cake and smooth evenly with an offset spatula.
  • Top individual slices of cake with a dollop of Reddi Wip and Maraschino cherries.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 502 kcal, Carbohydrate 79 g, Protein 6 g, Fat 19 g, SaturatedFat 10 g, Cholesterol 62 mg, Sodium 466 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 61 g, ServingSize 1 slice

"KEEP THE SPIRIT" FRUIT & CAKE



For something quick, easy & yummy, ya gotta fix this!

Provided by Sonya Bankester @kraftykat81

Categories     Fruit Desserts

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 - angel food cake, sliced thin
1 - 16 oz tub cool whip
1 pint(s) fresh blueberries, washed & drained
2 pint(s) fresh strawberries, washed & stemmed
2 cup(s) pecans, chopped
1 - tub strawberry or blueberry glaze

Steps:

  • On shallow 9x13 baking dish, spread thin layer of fruit glaze & coolwhip. Slice some strawberries. Place strawberries & blueberries alternately over glaze & coolwhip in a single layer. Evenly place sliced cake in bottom on top of fruit. Spread another layer of coolwhip & fruit glaze. Repeat with sliced cake, strawberries & blueberries. Finish with coolwhip spread evenly over cake. For the "Spirit" part. In top left corner, place blueberries in a square pattern. Using sliced strawberries, place in evenly placed "stripes" starting at top edge, skip an area for the "white stripe", repeat with sliced strawberries, until you have a "fruit stripe" flag.
  • Best if chilled 24 hours covered in refrigerator. Keep stored in refrigerator.

CHRISTMAS KEEPING CAKE (FRUITCAKE-LIKE, LESS FRUIT)



Christmas Keeping Cake (Fruitcake-Like, Less Fruit) image

From "The Spirit of Christmas Book III," Leisure arts, 1989. Made it for 2009 Christmas party-delicious, and not too "fruity." People who don't like fruitcake loved it. It has the most delicious scent when you unwrap it that remains until the last slice is eaten. I believe it took mine no more than 2 hours to bake. Keep an eye on it, so the cake won't dry.

Provided by EURrosa1

Categories     Winter

Time 3h

Yield 1 cake, 12-14 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 cup butter or 1 cup margarine, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
3 cups flour, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup red plum jam
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1 cup goldn raisins (I soaked mine in extra liquor)
1 cup quartered dates
1 cup brandy, bourbon or 1 cup sherry wine
cheesecloth

Steps:

  • Cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg yolks until fluffy.
  • Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk; beat it into eggs.
  • Combine 2 1/2 cups flour with spices. Add to egg mixture, alternately with jam.
  • Beat egg whites until almost stiff and fold into batter.
  • Combine remaining flour with pecans, raisins and dates; fold into batter.
  • Pour into well-greased and floured 10" tube pan. (I used bundt pan.). Bake at 300 F 3 to 3 1/3 hours (depends on oven). (NOTE: I believe it took mine no more than 2 hours to bake.) Place on wire rack until completely cool.
  • Soak cheesecloth in liquor and wrap cake. Wrap with foil. Brush with more liquor every week, closing tight with foil. Let age 4-6 weeks in cool place.

Related Topics