Holiday Fruitcake

Total Time

Prep: 20 min. Bake: 2 hours + cooling

Makes

16 servings

Updated: Dec. 14, 2023
This is my own fruitcake recipe, and it's a family favorite. I think it has just the right mix of nuts and fruit. —Allene Spence, Delbarton, West Virginia

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 cups whole red candied cherries
  • 1-1/2 cups whole green candied cherries
  • 3 cups diced candied pineapple
  • 10 ounces golden raisins
  • 1 pound walnut halves
  • 1 cup shortening
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 5 large eggs, room temperature
  • 4 tablespoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 300°. Combine fruits and walnuts. In another bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Pour over fruit mixture; stir to coat.
  2. 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.
Fruitcake Tips

Can you soak the fruitcake mix-ins before adding them to the batter?

Yes! You can soak the fruit in alcohol, such as rum, spiced rum or brandy, as well as nonalcoholic options, including orange or apple juice or spiced tea. Keep them in a covered container overnight at room temperature. Drain off any liquid before combining with the other ingredients.

Can you make fruitcake in other types of pans?

If you don’t have a 10-in. tube pan, we recommend making the fruitcake in two 9x5-in. loaf pans.

How should you grease the tube pan?

To grease a tube pan with ease, rub butter or shortening around the pan using a paper towel, then sprinkle with a thin layer of flour. Next, check out other fruitcake recipes, including upside-down fruitcake, mini fruitcakes and fruitcake squares.
—Julie Schnittka, Taste of Home Senior Editor

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 686 calories, 32g fat (5g saturated fat), 58mg cholesterol, 342mg sodium, 92g carbohydrate (61g sugars, 4g fiber), 10g protein.