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Fruitcake Christmas Cookies
As holiday gifts, these rich fruit-and nut-filled cookies are pretty and practical. These are great make ahead Christmas cookies —the taste actually gets better over time! —Julia Funkhouser, Carson, Iowa
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Upside-Down Fruitcake
I get tired of people bad-mouthing holiday fruitcakes. It's one of my favorite holiday flavors and I look forward to it every year. This year, I decided to combine it with everyone's favorite, upside-down cake. Try to say no to this fruitcake; I dare you! —James Schend, Dairy Freed
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Spiced Rum Fruitcake
This fruitcake not only can be made weeks ahead, it tastes better that way! You can substitute Brazil nuts, pecans and hazelnuts for the walnuts—or use a combination of nuts. —Jason Boor, Manchester, New York
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Mini Fruitcakes
Fruitcake always looked so festive to me but I did not like the hard citron fruit so I came up with my own recipe using dried fruits and nuts. I place these in Christmas themed petit fours paper cups and give them to neighbors and friends along with the many other cookies and candies I bake. These keep well in the freezer in an airtight container. Just thaw to room temperature and they taste fresh baked and moist. —Lisa McDermith, Highland, California
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Coconut Fruitcake
A neighbor gave me this recipe when we first moved to this small town, saying it dated back to the 1800s and everybody in the area made it. I soon discovered why when I took a taste...and I'm not a fruitcake fan! —Lorraine Groh, Ferryville, Wisconsin
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Holiday White Fruitcake
Years ago, when I attended Koloa Missionary Church in Hawaii, a friend gave me this recipe. Now I whip up at least 60 loaves for the holidays. —Eileen Sokolowski Flatt, Chandler, Arizona
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Nanny's Fruitcake Cookies
My grandmother always made a holiday fruitcake. I turned her recipe into cookies that are perfect anytime, especially with a cup of tea. —Amanda Digges, South Windsor, Connecticut
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Carrot Fruitcake
Even those who don't care for fruitcake love this special holiday dessert. It's a fun way to dress up that old favorite, carrot cake. Try it—your friends and family will agree. —Ann Parden, Chunchula, Alabama
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Gingerbread Fruitcake Cookies
Here’s a recipe that combines two holiday classics—gingerbread and fruitcake—into one yummy favorite. I spread on a simple glaze made from confectioners' sugar and orange juice. —Jamie Jones, Madison, Georgia
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Eggnog Fruit Bread
Presents from the pantry are a tradition in my family, and this moist, fruity quick bread is a favorite. I wrap loaves in cellophane and garnish with stickers and curly ribbons. —Margo Stich, Rochester, Minnesota
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Miniature Christmas Fruitcakes
I’ve found that people who normally won’t eat fruitcake make an exception when they sample these. Using mini muffin pans for baking creates fun, single-serving cakes. —Libby Over, Phillipsburg, Ohio
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Fruitcake Cookies with Rum Glaze
Like fruitcake—only better! If you make these cookies nonalcoholic, you may wish to increase the rum extract for richer flavor. —Sheila Joan Suhan, Scottdale, PA
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Candied Fruitcake Squares
I'm not big on citrussy fruitcake, so when I found this version decades ago, I knew I'd found "my" recipe. We're all nutty for it. —Nancy Johnson, Laverne, Oklahoma
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Fruitcake Pie
This recipe came from a friend who knows how much we love fruitcake. The pie has similar flavors, but it’s more manageable to make than a large batch of fruitcake. I usually serve it with whipped cream. It’s excellent with ice cream, too.
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Daisy's Fruitcake
I added pecans and candied fruits to an apple cake recipe for my Texan take on traditional English fruitcake. —Daisy Corene McHorse, San Saba, Texas
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Grandma's Molasses Fruitcake
This dense, dark, moist fruitcake was my grandmother's recipe. The flavor just gets better and better as it sits in the fridge, so be sure to make it ahead! —Debbie Harmon, Lavina, MontanaFor a less traditional spin on fruitcake, this Mountain Dew Fruit Quake—Mountain Dew with a fruitcake flavor—may do the trick.
Originally Published: November 26, 2018