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Overhead view of a simple fruitcake.
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Fruit Cake Recipe

This easy homemade fruit cake recipe is filled with delicious dried fruit that's been soaked in alcohol, then combined with other rich ingredients and baked into a wonderfully moist and dense loaf cake.
Step-by-step photos can be seen below the recipe card.
Prep Time2 hours 20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time3 hours 35 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16
Author: Krista Teigen

Ingredients

  • ½ cup dried figs chopped
  • ½ cup dried apricots chopped
  • ⅓ cup raisins
  • ½ cup candied cherries chopped
  • ½ cup dried pineapple chopped
  • ⅓ cup crystallized ginger chopped
  • 1 cup rum or brandy see note*
  • ½ cup butter (1 stick)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 1 egg
  • 1 orange zested
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ cup pecans chopped, or walnuts

Instructions

  • Add the figs, apricots, raisins, cherries, pineapple, and ginger to a bowl.
    ½ cup dried figs, ½ cup dried apricots, ⅓ cup raisins, ½ cup candied cherries, ½ cup dried pineapple, ⅓ cup crystallized ginger
    Ingredients for homemade fruit cake, arranged in small bowls.
  • Pour the rum or brandy over the fruit, and let it sit for at least 2 hours or overnight.
    1 cup rum or brandy
    Dried and candied fruits soaking in bourbon, in a glass mixing bowl.
  • Preheat the oven to 325℉.
  • Beat the butter and sugar until smooth. Then, beat in the sour cream, egg, and orange zest.
    ½ cup butter, 1 cup sugar, ½ cup sour cream, 1 egg, 1 orange
  • In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda.
    2 cups all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and beat until just combined.
  • Using a spatula, fold in the fruit with the soaking liquid, ginger, and pecans.
    ½ cup pecans
  • Pour the batter in a greased 9x5 loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
  • Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Then, remove it from the pan, and transfer to a rack.
  • Brush the sides and top of the cake with brandy.
  • Let the cake cool completely before serving or storing.
    A loaf of fruitcake partially cut into slices.

Notes

*If you prefer to make this fruit cake without alcohol, substitute an equal amount of apple juice or cranberry juice in place of the rum.

Nutrition

Calories: 284kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 82mg | Potassium: 146mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 395IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 1mg