I was at the grocery store today, and found myself picking up containers of raisins and currents. I looked for dried cherries, but will have to look elsewhere for those, and a few other items. With Thanksgiving and Christmas fast approaching, I have found my mind drifting toward … fruitcake.
Dare I confess? I really like fruitcake. Unfortunately, I rarely get to indulge because few people of my acquaintance will have a fruitcake anywhere in sight. If the subject comes up, it is met with either groans, laughter or (worst of all) the eyebrow lifted in disdain. Somehow, though, there is something about a cake full of dried fruits, nuts and spices that I really like (especially if a little good rum or brandy is introduced along the way).
Fruitcake of one kind or another has been around since the Romans. In my Georgian-era cook books, I’ve found a couple of recipes for different cakes with currants. However, my Fanny Farmer edition of 1896, and my great-grandmother’s 1894 copy of THE FAVORITE COOK BOOK have lots of recipes for fruitcakes of all descriptions. Apparently fruitcake was a specialty treat in the Georgian era and really came into its own in the Victorian era. They were a true special occasion cake, and were often used for wedding cakes. In fact, Fiona Cairns made a huge, tiered fruitcake for Prince William and Catherine Middleton’s wedding cake (see it here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1381944/Royal-Wedding-cake-Kate-Middleton-requested-8-tiers-decorated-900-flowers.html). Every culture seems to have some version of a fruitcake or fruit bread. There is no clear indicator of when or why it became limited to a primarily Christmas dish, but that seems to be the tradition today.
When I was a child, I can remember fruitcake being a holiday staple, always around but more of a grown-up treat (thanks to the alcohol addition!). Unfortunately, by the time I was old enough to appreciate it, it had become a mass-produced block and was considered unnecessary at best.
For the last several years, I have considered digging out a recipe and making one. Some of the recipes are quite complex and time-consuming. A few items like the candied citron and the neon-green candied cherries will definitely not be included. However, this may just be the year I go for it. I’ve already made a start on getting the ingredients together. Who knows, a home-made-from-scratch fruitcake might find a welcome this year!
(Image from Wikimedia Commons.)
I stopped making my proper Christmas cake a few years ago, I’d normally bake it at the end of September beginning of October and come Christmas it would be perfect. Trouble with my family is that they prefer a slapped together boiled fruit cake rather than something that was made with love, like mine. I sometimes get the urge and make one as a birthday cake, I think the trouble is for the plebs that a good fruit cake is too rich for them. A good well made cake will last for months unless devoured by lovers of fine food. 🙂
Brian, you owe it to yourself to make the real thing! Yours must be wonderful. Thanks for commenting.
When I was a child, I can remember fruitcake being a holiday staple, always around but more of a grown-up treat (thanks to the alcohol addition!).
Yes–that’s what I recall. I think they were made better in those days. The fruitcake people despise today is nothing like the real thing.
Nice post!
Thanks, Angelyn~ I appreciate your commenting!
I love making Christmas cake but can’t resist picking at the dried fruit and cherries before it even gets into the cake – and after with marzipan and royal icing – there’s no bigger treat for me at Christmas!
That sounds luscious!
I would absolutely love to have a real fruitcake. When my grandmother passed away, I lost my fruitcake connection. She made some of the best I have ever tasted. Sniff! That was 20 years ago. Keep the tradition alive!
My Website was misspelled. Sorry.
David-I haven’t had a real, homemade fruitcake in years either. This may just be the year! Thanks for commenting.
I love fruitcake. Absolutely adore it. There’s a great recipe in one of Patrick Taylor’s Ireland books… I think it’s An Irish Country Christmas. I hope I can find my copy in time to make it this year.
Thanks, Barbara! I will look for that cookbook.