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You are here: Home / Cookies, Brownies and Bars / Last Minute Fruitcake

Last Minute Fruitcake

December 17, 2014 15 Comments

Last Minute Fruitcake with Dates, Raisins, Cherries, and Nuts Sliced

Last Minute Fruitcake is really delicious. Dates, nuts, dried cranberries, maraschino cherries and a hint of booze make it my favorite!

Fruitcake - Easy and Delicious

This recipe for Wayback Wednesday not only goes back in time to when I first posted this Favorite Last Minute Fruitcake in December of 2009 but even farther back to when I first started making it. A VERY long time ago. I just went and found the cookbook my inspiration came from which was a holiday book put out by Hallmark with a copyright date of 1978…I told you, a very long time ago!

Fruitcake - Easy and Delicious
And I know many of you will turn your nose up like I used to at the very thought. Poor maligned fruitcake. There has to be a better name for it because for many it just sends a message of hard citrus (citronella tasting even!) bitter pieces of hard fruit that I can’t even call candy. Or else it’s so heavily sauced (and I mean sauced, you know, as in having had too much to drink!) pieces of brick.

Fruitcake - Easy and Delicious

This one is different. Just fruit and nuts and maraschino cherries and enough dough to just hold the fruit and nuts together. I’m certain the last minute designation refers to that fact that there is no waiting, no need to cover with cheesecake and pour bourbon over it and wait some more. You CAN make it at the last minute for gift giving (and for yourself too of course!) and it’s wonderful just the way it is…although I do love it with a bit of butter or for a real indulgence, a touch of cream cheese.

Fruitcake - Easy and Delicious

I’ve revised the original recipe a bit with the addition of dried cranberries and a bit of Irish Whiskey but with or without that boozy touch, it’s always enjoyed by all…adults, kids and especially Santa’s elves!

PIN IT! ‘Favorite Last Minute Fruitcake’

Last Minute Fruitcake with Dates, Raisins, Cherries, and Nuts Sliced

Yield: 10 Servings

Last Minute Fruitcake

Last Minute Fruitcake with Dates, Raisins, Cherries, and Nuts Sliced

This can be last minutes, so soaking in booze and waiting for weeks. No artificial candy stuff either, simply maraschino cherries, dates, and nuts. A REALLY good little fruitcake!

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup cutup pitted dates
  • 1/8 cup Irish Whiskey
  • 1 cup maraschino cherries, halved
  • 1 cup blanched, slivered almonds
  • 2 cups walnut pieces
  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  1. Soak raisins, dried cranberries and dates in Irish Whiskey for at least 15 minutes to plump them up.
  2. Grease and flour a non-stick loaf pan. (Original directions called for lightly greasing a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan; lining the pan with waxed paper and then greasing that paper. With nonstick some might forego that extra step of lining the pan with waxed paper but I y do it anyway).
  3. Mix fruits, nuts and seeds in a large mixing bowl (Add fruit WITH liquid from 1st step).
  4. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar over mixture; toss to coat all fruits and nuts with flour.
  5. Beat eggs until foamy, then add vanilla.
  6. Pour over fruit mixture and stir just until blended.
  7. Pour into prepared loaf pan.
  8. Bake in a preheated 300 degree oven about 1 & 1/2 hours. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Notes

I make a triple batch of this recipe and then bake it in smaller loaf pans for gift giving. Check dough after 55 minutes for doneness - toothpick inserted into cake pulls out clean. LOVE this pan from Wilton; does make doing small loaves much easier to handle!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 406Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 466mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 5gSugar: 39gProtein: 9g

The nutritional information is computer-generated and only an estimate.

© Creative Culinary
Cuisine: American / Category: Cakes, Cupcakes & Cheesecake

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Comments

  1. Holly says

    December 20, 2014 at 7:30 pm

    I bet you've had some very happy neighbors when you shared this fruitcake! Jason's mother is sending a fruitcake from England which will arrive tomorrow via plane with Jason's brother. It's one dessert that he loves and one of the few of which I don't have a single bite! I think he 'd like your version too and will save your recipe for some year when I need to make one quickly. Thanks!
    Reply
    • Creative Culinary says

      December 21, 2014 at 1:50 pm

      Now if you were just a bit closer...or what the heck; let's make coffee happen and I'll save a loaf just for YOU!
      Reply
  2. Brooks says

    December 18, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    Love this, Barb. Fruitcake is maligned, but this recipe will change that. And the panlettes...adorable!
    Reply
  3. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

    December 18, 2014 at 12:39 am

    Since moving to Australia I've learned to like fruitcake. I wouldn't choose it over a chocolate cake for my birthday though. :)
    Reply
  4. John@Kitchen Riffs says

    December 17, 2014 at 5:03 pm

    Great recipe! I'm never organized enough to make an authentic fruitcake that needs to be made weeks (months!) ahead.
    Reply
  5. Jenni says

    December 17, 2014 at 11:55 am

    Toasted with cream cheese is, hands down, my favorite way to eat fruitcake. I love these! The Beloved makes Alton's every year, but they do require planning ahead and spraying with brandy and such for a few weeks. It's nice to have a last-minute option!
    Reply
  6. deeba says

    December 9, 2010 at 8:13 am

    Love your pans as much as I love the recipe. How cool are both! Thank you!!!
    Reply
    • Creative Culinary says

      December 9, 2010 at 11:02 am

      Thanks Deeba...hope you try it and enjoy it as much as we do!
      Reply
  7. Abby says

    December 19, 2009 at 8:08 am

    Thanks so much for sharing this recipe. I made it for years and years, but then lost the recipe during a move. I have been searching ever since. People who hate fruitcake have always loved this.
    Reply
    • Creative Culinary says

      December 19, 2009 at 8:15 am

      You're welcome...one of the wonders of being able to share with the world. I've added a couple of things to the original. I like the color of the dried cranberries and the original didn't call for any booze. But beyond that, you're right, people love it. If I didn't include these in my holiday gift plates, I might as well not bother!
      Reply
  8. Kelly @ EvilShenanigans says

    December 15, 2009 at 9:04 am

    Yum!  It will take time but I think we can repair the damaged reputation of Fruit Cake!  Yours looks lovely!
    Reply
  9. Carolyn Gossett Moseley says

    December 14, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    I have been making fruitcakes for 30 years and believe it or not I have a list of friends who stand in line for my cakes (12 this year).  I start baking them right after Thanksgiving each year.  The recipe belonged to my aunt.   I have been told it is the best fruitcake ever - no shortcuts.  I pour a tablespooon of sherry on each cake for several days in a row and this sinks in to make it yummy!
    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Homemade caramel sauce with a twist. A Rum and Cinnamon one. — A Denver Colorado Food Blog - Sharing food through recipes and photography. says:
    October 24, 2011 at 9:04 pm
    [...] holiday favorites including my Grandmother Lizette’s’ Pecan Butter Balls (above) and my Favorite Fruitcake (don’t be afraid…there is nary one of those nasty green or yellow awful citron things [...]
    Reply
  2. Cooking Games Easy And Entertaining | Cooking Advice says:
    December 21, 2009 at 2:50 am
    [...] Last Minute Fruitcake | Vino Luci Style – A food and wine blog … [...]
    Reply
  3. uberVU - social comments says:
    December 15, 2009 at 8:13 am
    Social comments and analytics for this post... This post was mentioned on Twitter by vinoluci: Fruitcake but don't cringe. This is a cake with dates/walnuts/cherries and more and not a hard citrus thing in site: http://bit.ly/58XFZn...
    Reply

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I’m Barbara Kiebel, the cook, photographer, author, and everyday eater at Creative Culinary. I hope you enjoy the recipes I prepare for family and friends and appreciate every one of you that come visit my virtual home! Read More…

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