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Grandma’s Fruitcake recipe is so yummy. If you’re looking for an easy way to make this old fashioned marinated fruit bread, this is it!
I decided to make Grandma’s fruitcake this year and it’s just like she was in the kitchen with me. At Christmas the dessert tray just isn’t complete without the old fashioned classics like this one. Moist and delicious with great memories on a plate. (affiliate links present)
You could make this into a handheld easy muffin recipe as well. Those will bake faster but with the same flavors that will bring you right back to your childhood just the same.
Easy Fruit Cake Recipe
Sometimes old fashioned means time intensive. That isn’t always true but many times I will agree that many times it is, that is why I appreciate these instructions. I would say the prep is about 15 minutes and then you can just pop it into the oven. Want to make this as gifts? You can double or triple it to share with friends too for sure.
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Fruit Cake Ingredients
You can think about this mixture as a cross between fluffy yellow cake and a pound cake I guess. It is more on the dense side of things because of all the add ins. If you just made the cake by itself though it would be similar to those two. This is what you need:
- Container of fruitcake fruit
- Pecans are of course optional but traditionally found in every bite
- All purpose flour, make sure you know how to measure flour properly
- Butter should be softened for best results
- Sugar
- Eggs are best added when at room temperature if possible
- Baking soda
- Salt and vanilla
The ingredients and instructions below will make one 9×5″ size loaf pan. If you are batch cooking more than 1 just ensure that each batch is made in a different bowl so an equal amount of batter is added into each pan.
How to Make Fruit Cake
Just like baking any other type of sweet bread you want to whisk wet ingredients together in one bowl, and dry in another. Then incorporate the two and add the fruit and nuts at the end. You just want to fold those in so they don’t break all apart.
- You will use a 9×5″ loaf pan for this. Spray inside with non stick spray lightly and shake some flour in while patting it around. It will slide out nicely when done if you do this. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
- In a bowl whisk sugar, eggs, vanilla together and then add softened butter and whisk until smooth.
- Use another bowl whisk to together dry ingredients. Then slowly incorporate this into your butter, wet, mixture.
- Gently fold in marinated fruit and pecans so they are incorporated nicely. Then pour batter into your pan and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes, then loosen slides with a knife and slide out. Set that on your cooling rack to completely cool. Slice and serve.
Best Fruit Cake Recipe
If you do choose to make famous fruitcake muffins instead they would need to bake about 20 minutes or so. Use a toothpick inserted and take out right away once it isn’t wet in the middle. If a few crumbs are attached when you pull it out they are perfect. Take them out of the pan and let cool on a cooling rack when you take them out.
We do have a few other things to add to your Christmas brunch items with Grandmas fruitcake. If you’re looking for something new to add to yours here are a few favorites:
- Our German spice lebkuchen cookies recipe was made by Grandma too. These are a must once a year.
- Crinkle cookies are yummy and we make them easier as a boxed cake mix recipe.
- As a side dish goes, this ambrosia recipe is a family favorite too.
Yes we do have proteins as well but mostly finger foods like dry rub air fryer wings and things like that. Everyone just gets to visit with one another and eat throughout the day that way.
How do you store leftover fruitcake?
We will share the steps below but you need to make sure it is wrapped twice in freezer safe aluminum foil and/or freezer bags to avoid drying out. Wrapped properly it will last a year in the freezer, or 2 months in the fridge. Keep in mind that the first few days it should be left on the countertop to stay moist.
If you make more than one to save one or more loaves for yourself you’ll want to wrap and store them properly. This way it will stay as moist as possible as long as possible. It is already a little bit dry as far as sweet breads go so… First allow each one to cool completely. If you are storing a partial loaf don’t slice what you aren’t eating.
Keeping the whole piece in tact will keep it as moist and tender as possible. Wrap each one separately in plastic wrap. Then either wrap again with foil or put into a gallon freezer bag and suck all the air out of that.
- Lay them flat in your freezer. Mark the date you baked it on the outside. It will last up to a year stored this way.
- Allow to come to room temperature on it’s own when you take it out and then enjoy Grandma’s fruitcake one slice at a time.
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5 from 1 vote
Grandma’s Fruitcake
Grandma's Fruitcake recipe is so yummy. If you're looking for an easy way to make this old fashioned marinated fruit bread, this is it!
Course Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword easy, fruitcake, grandmas, homemade, simple
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
Servings 12
Calories 330kcal
Author The Typical Mom
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter softened
- 1 3/4 c sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 c all purpose flour
- 1 c pecans chopped
- 1 lb fruitcake fruit
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
You will use one 9×5" loaf pan for this. Spray inside with non stick spray lightly and shake some flour in while patting it around so it slides out nicely when done. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
In a bowl whisk sugar, eggs, vanilla together and then add softened butter and whisk until smooth.
In another bowl whisk together dry ingredients. Then slowly incorporate this into your butter, wet, mixture.
Gently fold in fruit and pecans so it is incorporated nicely. Then pour batter into your pan and bake for 1 hour 10 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes, then loosen slides with a knife and slide out. Set that on your cooling rack to completely cool.
Slice and serve.
Video
Nutrition Facts
Grandma's Fruitcake
Amount Per Serving (1 oz)
Calories 330Calories from Fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15g23%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 6g
Cholesterol 61mg20%
Sodium 181mg8%
Potassium 108mg3%
Carbohydrates 46g15%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 30g33%
Protein 4g8%
Vitamin A 299IU6%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 32mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
