The Christmas Baking Begins - Fruitcake

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Before you run and check your calendar for fear you've slept through a month and a half, yes, it is still October! We have a tradition in our family, we gather on a weekend day near the end of October and we whip up a batch of fruitcake. Once baked, these cakes get soaked in brandy, wrapped in cloth, then waxed paper, and then sealed in foil whereupon they are hidden away in a dry, cool spot to await their unveiling - generally 8 weeks after we baked them.

This was the recipe used to make my mother's wedding cake back in 1961. My earliest memory of mom making them is 1967 when she and her friend whipped them together in the small kitchen in our apartment. For those who are counting - I was three way back then. So these cakes have been a family tradition for more than 40 years.

To be honest, I don't really like fruitcake all that much. A slice or two will do me for a year. So what do I do with the eight cakes my half of the recipe generally makes? I give them away or sell them - every year my office has a bake sale to raise money for charity. Each one of these babies goes for $ 6 which is a nice profit for the charity.

This year we decided to get an early start - 6:30 a.m. ARGH When we went to bed last night we smiled to ourselves - sure that there was no way mom would be here that early. When the alarm went at 5:45 I got up, showered, went downstairs to make some coffee and feed the cats. I figured that I could relax for a few hours before mom showed up. I was just in the middle of making some muffins for breakfast when the doorbell rang - 'good lord', I thought - she actually got up! Yes, it was her.

This recipe makes about 7 1/2 pounds of cake.

1 lb butter
2 cups white sugar
12 eggs, separated
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp nutmeg
½ tbsp ground allspice
4 cups all purpose flour
5 lb raisins (half light and half dark)
1 ½ lb citron peel
1 lb candied cherries cut in half
1 lb candied pineapple cut into chunks
½ cup brandy
1 small bottle strawberry jam
1 small bottle grape juice (about 14 oz)
½ tsp soda added to grape juice just before mixing it into the batter
1 tsp vanilla

Cut parchment paper to line pans. Grease parchment paper with butter. Line the pans.

With a mixer, cream butter and sugar.

Add the 12 egg yolks to the creamed butter and sugar.

Add spices.

In a large bowl place all of the fruit. Mix the flour and fruit together.

Add butter mixture to the flour mixture.

Mix in brandy, strawberry jam, grape juice/baking soda  mixture, and vanilla.

Gently fold in the 12 egg whites (stiffly beaten).

Fill the prepared pans with the batter.

Bake at 300 degrees until done (small cakes like we make generally take about 2 hours).

And now . . . the pics:

Paul chopping the fruit
You'll notice the debris left behind after I gave mom a treat from Palm Desert - Pistachios

Mom separating the eggs

Folding in the stiffly beaten egg whites

Ready to go into the oven
We put the filled cake tins on cookie sheets so it is easier to move the cakes around in the oven to ensure even browning

Out of the oven and ready to cool

Comments

[Gail Hecko]

I love fruitcake....along with the 10 others in the world who will admit it.

I'll buy one of those beauties and pay for the shipping! Oh yum.

[Jerry]

Gail - I didn't think anyone would admit to liking fruitcake! These babies are amazing after they have been soaking in brandy for 2 months - YUM

I like them because they are a family tradition - a wee bit of history as it were.

[Palma]

I'm so relieved to not be the only one who makes you get up early to cook!

[Jerry]

Not at all Palmabella - in fact I think I do my best cooking in the wee hours of the morning. I'm fresh and the house is quite - it is MY time (well except for today when it was EVERYONE time!)

[Lou]

Jerry, my husband loves fruitcake and I like fruitcake. Add two more to the 10 people, now we have 12!

How much brandy do you use and do you pour it on while they are warm? Also, do you wrap them in cheesecloth? I'm excited and ready to bake something for the holidays, even though it was 96 degrees here in PD today....

[Barb Cabot]

Dear Jerry, this post made me laugh so much...your mom arriving so early while you are "baking muffins". You are ADORABLE and so is your mom...what a lovely family tradition. Be well!

[Jerry]

Lou - when the cakes are cooled I poke holes in the tops with a toothpick. I then drizzle about 1 - 2 tbsp of brandy on top (I nornally just dump it so I am not sure of the exact measurement!)

The cakes are then wrapped in cloth (cheesecloth would work well), then in wax paper (or parchment) and then tightly in foil.

They 'rest' for about 6 weeks - and then enjoy!

Barb - if you know my mom you would laugh even more - she is NOT a morning person and NEVER early for anything. Paul was still in bed when she arrived - assuming that she would be late and all!

I used to think that we didn't have many family traditions but I am realizing that we have far more than I thought - most involve food! LOL

Have a great week Barb!

[Kim]

Jerry, you've just dispelled my belief that there was only one fruitcake on this Earth and it just kept getting passed around from year to year. I see 15 on your stove top alone (which btw, is three more than you need for the 12 people who like fruitcake).

I can honestly say though, I've never tried it.

[Jerry]

It sure falls into the category of you either love it or hate it! For us no Christmas would be the same without it. I suspect it is a British thing.

[Robert]

Wow, you take your traditions seriously!

I like the sound of this fruit cake though. Our traditional one requires boiling and steaming and takes forever (plus requires a huge kitchen or a clean oil drum and an outdoor fire to execute).

[Jerry]

Robert - you do not know the half of it. I remember the year I decided not to have a turkey for Christmas dinner. My sister still goes on about it! LOL

This is an easy cake to throw together (especially if you have a helper to chop all of the fruit).

[sandi @ the whistlestop cafe]

I can see you wasted no time getting your helpers to work. Palma taught you well!
I Love Fruit Cake!

[Jerry]

Sandi - you are soooo right - no one can say that I failed to learn my lessons from sister Palma! LOL

Imagine - more fruit cake lovers! Who knew there were so many?

[Rose]

Your right about the turkey! I do still talk about it. However, Christmas without Mom's fruitcake is just not right at all! Love the pics.

[Jerry]

Well Rose - I guess if you're a good sister you may have one sent to you.

Guess what - we're not having a turkey this year either! LOL