Best Walnut Spice Fruitcake Recipes

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MRS. MAUS'S FRUITCAKE



Mrs. Maus's Fruitcake image

Growing up in Nutley, New Jersey, Martha used to help her neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Maus, who owned a bakery, make these delicious, buttery cakes filled with nuts and candied fruits. Read more about Martha's history with this dessert here.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cake Recipes

Yield Makes five 6-inch cakes

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
2 cups plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided
12 large eggs
1/2 cup molasses
4 pounds candied and dried fruits, such as citron, lemon peel, orange peel, sour cherries, apricots, and golden raisins, chopped, divided (12 cups)
2 pounds nuts, such as walnuts and pecans, coarsely chopped (8 cups)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons ground allspice
2/3 cup brandy, divided
Glaceed fruits, such as figs, oranges, pears, apricots, peaches, and pineapple, for garnish
Candied cherries and kumquats, for garnish
1 cup apricot jam

Steps:

  • Heat oven to 275 degrees. Butter five 6-by-2-inch round cake pans. Butter five strips of 18-by-3-inch parchment paper to form a collar for each pan.
  • Cream butter and 2 cups sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time. Mix in molasses and 2 cups of candied fruit, blending well. Remove batter to a large bowl and add one-quarter of the nuts. Sift in flour and allspice 1 cup at a time, mixing well between additions. Add remaining candied fruit and nuts, stirring with a spoon. Divide batter evenly among pans; bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. While still warm, brush with 1/3 cup brandy mixed with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar. Let cool on wire rack.
  • Gently remove cakes from pans and remove paper collars. Decorate cakes with glaceed fruits and candied cherries and kumquats. Heat apricot jam and remaining 1/3 cup brandy in a small saucepan over medium heat. Strain and brush over fruits to hold in place.

HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE



Holiday Fruitcake image

This is my own fruitcake recipe and it's a family favorite. The mixture of fruits and nuts helps make it a tasty treat. -Allene Spence, Delbarton, West Virginia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 2h20m

Yield 16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

1-1/2 cups whole red candied cherries
1-1/2 cups whole green candied cherries
3 cups diced candied pineapple
1 pound walnut halves
10 ounces golden raisins
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
5 large eggs
4 tablespoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 300°. Combine fruit and nuts. In another bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Pour over fruit and nuts; stir to coat. , Transfer to a greased and floured 10-in. tube pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 2 hours. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Wrap tightly and store in a cool place. Bring to room temperature before serving; slice with a serrated knife.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 686 calories, Fat 32g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 58mg cholesterol, Sodium 342mg sodium, Carbohydrate 92g carbohydrate (61g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 10g protein.

SPICED RUM FRUITCAKE



Spiced Rum Fruitcake image

This fruitcake not only can be made weeks ahead, it tastes better that way! You can substitute Brazil nuts, pecans and hazelnuts for the walnuts-or use a combination of nuts. -Jason Boor, Manchester, New York

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 1h40m

Yield 1 loaf (16 slices).

Number Of Ingredients 10

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups chopped walnuts
1 package (8 ounces) pitted dates, chopped
1 cup maraschino cherries, halved
1/2 cup dried mangoes, chopped
3 large eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup spiced rum, divided

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 300°. Line a 9x5-in. loaf pan with parchment, letting ends extend up sides of pan; grease and set aside., In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt. Add the walnuts, dates, cherries and mangoes; toss to coat. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, brown sugar and 1/2 cup rum until blended; stir into fruit mixture. Transfer to prepared pan., Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours. Cool in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes. Slowly pour remaining rum over cake. Cool completely. Wrap tightly and store in a cool, dry place overnight. Cut with a serrated knife.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 256 calories, Fat 11g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 35mg cholesterol, Sodium 96mg sodium, Carbohydrate 35g carbohydrate (25g sugars, Fiber 3g fiber), Protein 4g protein.

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.

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