Big Earls Easy Icebox Fruitcake Recipes

MAMA'S ICEBOX FRUITCAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Prepare all the dry ingredients ahead of time as directed.
• Chop the pecans, walnuts, brazil nuts, and raisins as needed.
• Crush or chop the graham crackers.
• Chop the maraschino cherries, saving the juice. Set aside for now.
• Place the chopped nuts in a large mixing pan.
• Add the chopped graham crackers.
• Add the coconut.
• Mix dry ingredients together to fully combine.
• Place the marshmallows in a medium size sauce pot.
• Add the milk.
• Place the pot over Medium Low heat on your stove top.
• Constantly stir this mixture until the marshmallows are fully melted.
• Pour the marshmallow mixture over the crushed nuts and graham crackers.
• Add the chopped cherries with juice.
• Mix well, until fully combined.
• Lightly butter a 9 x 13 x 2 casserole type dish or pan.
• Place the mixture in the dish, spread evenly and press firmly.
• Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Enjoy!

ICEBOX FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Finely crush graham crackers and coarsely chop pecans and drained cherries.
• Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and mix well.
• Turn out into a lightly buttered 9x13 baking dish and press flat into the pan with your hands. Chill for at least 6 hours.

ICE BOX FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together the pecans, raisins, walnuts, cherries, condensed milk and vanilla wafers. Dough will be very thick, you will need to use your hands.
• Form dough into a ring shape on top of a dinner plate. Wrap in many layers of plastic wrap and/or aluminum foil. Allow to age in the refrigerator for at least a week. The flavors will have a chance to blend and all of the milk will be absorbed into the cake.

SHIRLEY'S ICE BOX FRUIT CAKE

Steps:

• Line a 9x9-inch dish or decorative container with waxed paper.
• Mix pecans, raisins, coconut, graham cracker crumbs, and cherries together in a bowl using your hands; stir in sweetened condensed milk. Press mixture into the prepared dish. Cover dish with plastic wrap or a tight-fitting lid. Refrigerate for 1 day.

ICEBOX FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Lightly spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Crush the graham crackers using a food processor or add them to a large ziptop bag and crush using a rolling pin. Coarsely chop the cherries.
• Combine crushed graham crackers, pecans, cherries, raisins, coconut, marshmallows, and sweetened condensed milk in a large bowl and mix well. Add reserved cherry juice by the tablespoonful until the mixture comes together, but isn't too soft. I usually add between 2 and 3 tablespoons.
• Turn out into the prepared dish and press flat with your hands. Cover and chill at least 6 hours, then cut into bars. Keep refrigerated.

BIG EARL'S EASY ICEBOX FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• 1. Line two 9 x 5 inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, allowing wrap to hang over edges 3 or 4 inches.
• 2. In a large bowl, finely crush the graham crackers, then add the red and green cherries, candied fruit, and pecans.
• 3. Melt butter in a double boiler. Cool slightly. Add sweetened condensed milk, marshmallows, and bourbon (or wine), stir well. Pour this over the crackers and fruit. Mix well. The mixture should be very thick and moistened thoroughly. Pack mixture tightly into the lined pan making sure no air bubbles are trapped in the loaf. Garnish top with pecan and cherry halves. Cover tightly with the plastic wrap.
• 4. Allow to age in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 weeks or longer (the longer the better the flavor). The flavors will have a chance to blend and all of the liquids will be absorbed into the cake. I have keep them in the refrigerator for over two years and enjoyed a slice of fruitcake every once in a while all year long. After they have molded to the shape of the loaf pan (3 to 4 weeks) they may be removed from the pans for long term storage.
• 5. Note 1: I use a 32 ounce (2 pound) container of mixed candied fruit. I hold out enough of the red and green maraschino cherries (cut in half) and pecan halves to garnish the top of the fruitcakes, the rest of the cherries and pecans are cut up in the cake.
• 6. Note 2: 2 cup sweet wine (grape, blackberry or any flavor you desire) may be substituted for the bourbon or they both may be left completely out.