Here’s a classic old-fashioned Fruit Cake — moist, dense, and packed with fruit and warm spices 🍰
This is the traditional version people actually enjoy (not dry!).
Classic Fruit Cake
Ingredients
Fruit & Nuts
- 1½ cups mixed dried fruit (raisins, cherries, pineapple, cranberries)
- ½ cup chopped dates (optional)
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- ¼ cup orange juice (or apple juice)
Cake Batter
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground cloves
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange or lemon (optional)
Instructions
- Soak the fruit
- Combine dried fruit, nuts, and orange juice.
- Let soak 30 minutes (or overnight for best flavor).
- Preheat oven
- 300°F (150°C)
- Grease and line a loaf pan or 9-inch round pan.
- Cream butter & sugar
- Beat butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, mixing well.
- Mix dry ingredients
- Whisk flour, baking powder, spices, and salt.
- Combine
- Add dry ingredients to batter.
- Stir in vanilla, zest, and soaked fruit (with any liquid).
- Bake
- Pour into pan and smooth top.
- Bake:
- Loaf pan: 1½–2 hours
- Round pan: 2–2½ hours
- Tent loosely with foil if top browns too fast.
- Cool
- Cool completely before slicing.
Tips for the Best Fruit Cake
- Chop fruit small for even texture.
- Low, slow baking keeps it moist.
- Tastes better after a day or two.
Variations
- 🍒 Southern style: add chopped maraschino cherries
- 🥃 Traditional version: brush with juice or syrup after baking
- 🥥 Tropical: add coconut and dried mango
- 🍋 Lighter: use apple sauce for half the butter
If you want, I can also share:
- Easy fruit cake (1 hour bake)
- Mini fruit cake loaves
- Alcohol-free Christmas fruit cake
- Old-fashioned dark fruit cake
Just tell me 😊
