Moms Holiday Rush Fruitcake Recipes

" CAN'T FAIL" HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Butter a 9 inch springform pan.
• Line with wax paper.
• Butter again.
• Sift flour and baking soda.
• Combine eggs, mincemeat, sweetened condensed milk, chopped walnuts and candied fruit.
• Fold in dry ingredients.
• Pour into pan.
• Bake in 300°F oven for 2 hours, until center springs back and top is golden.
• Cool thoroughly.
• Turn out and remove wax paper.
• Refrigerate, well wrapped, at least 24 hours before decorating, slicing and serving.

THE BEST FRUITCAKE

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.

MOM'S FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250-275 degrees.
• Batter will make about 15 lbs. Prepare pans according to chart below. Grease and line pans with brown paper, waxed paper, or parchment. Grease again. Cut paper about 1 inch taller than pans. Fill pans a little over half full with batter. If you have room in the oven, put a pan with some hot water in it in the bottom, to keep the cakes moist. Enjoy!
• Pan sizes and baking chart:
• 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan: 6 1/2 cups batter, bake for 3 hours
• 10" tube pan: 2 1/2 quarts batter, bake for 3 hrs 15 mins
• 1 lb. coffee cans: 3 3/4 cups batter, bake for 3 hrs 15 mins
• 9 1/4 oz. tuna cans: 1 cup batter, bake for 1 hour 30 mins
• No.303 (16oz) cans: 1 2/3 cup batter, bake for 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 hours
• 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 x 2-inch mini loaf pans: 3/4 cup batter, bake for 1 hour

NO BAKE FRUITCAKE BY PAULA DEEN

Steps:

• Spray 10 mini loaf pans with vegetable oil cooking spray.
• In a 2-quart saucepan, heat the milk and marshmallow together over low heat.
• Stir constantly, because condensed milk scorches easily, until the marshmallows are melted.
• Remove the mixture from the heat.
• Combine the cracker crumbs, pecans, coconut, dates and cherries in a large bowl.
• Add the bourbon to the milk mixture and pour over the crumb mixture.
• Mix well with your hands.
• Scoop the mixture into the prepared pans and press down firmly to mold into shape.
• Refrigerate for 2 days.

HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE

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.

GRANMAMA'S UNCOOKED (NO BAKE, NO COOK) FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Crush the graham crackers into fine crumbs.
• Granmama's recipe calls for "puffed" raisins. To puff them, soak in hot water for 30 minutes.
• Chop the nuts; drain and cut cherries in half (if they are whole).
• Melt marshmallows in milk.
• Mix all ingredients together.
• Pack into regular sized loaf pan.
• Refrigerated overnight and cut with a hot knife.
• Coconut is an optional ingredient.
• Cook time is refrigeration time.

CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Soak cherries, mango, cranberries, currants, and citron in 1/4 cup rum for at least 24 hours. Cover tightly, and store at room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Butter a 6x3-inch round pan or loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mix into butter and sugar in three batches, alternating with molasses and milk. Stir in soaked fruit and chopped nuts. Scrape batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons rum.
• Cut out one piece parchment paper and one piece cheesecloth, each large enough to wrap around the cake. Moisten cheesecloth with 1 tablespoon rum. Arrange cheesecloth on top of parchment paper, and unmold cake onto it. Sprinkle top and sides of cake with remaining rum. Wrap the cheesecloth closely to the surface of the cake, then wrap with paper. Place in an airtight tin, and age for at least 10 weeks. If storing longer, douse with additional rum for every 10 weeks of storage.

FRUITIFUL NO-BAKE FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Fold the grape juice into the whipped cream in a bowl. Fold in the marshmallows. Set aside for flavors to blend.
• Cover the raisins and currants with boiling water in a shallow bowl. Let stand for 10 minutes; drain and pat dry with a paper towel.
• Process the graham crackers in a food processor until they're nearly dust. Combine with the cinnamon and nutmeg in a large bowl and mix well. Add the dates, pecans, figs, pineapple, 3/4 cup cherries, citron and orange zest and mix well. Add the raisins and currants and mix well.
• Fold in the marshmallow mixture. Fold in the brandy.
• Press the mixture into a greased bundt pan. Unmold onto waxed paper and press candied cherries onto the top.
• Store in a sealed tin for 3 to 4 weeks before serving.

MOM'S HOLIDAY RUSH FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Line mold or cake pan with wax paper or foil.
• In LARGE bowl mix together graham cracker crumbs, spices,fruit and nuts.
• Combine Evaporated milk& juice,Add to the crumb mixture.
• Stir and Knead untill all of the crumbs are moistened.
• (if need add more milk) Press mixture firmly into pan.
• Cover tightly, Chill at least 2 days before slicing, So that flavors may blend.
• Fruit& nuts may be pressed into top of cake (for decorations) Before chilling.
• This can be pressed into small pans for gifts.
• Be sure to refrigerate.