It seems that we blink and Halloween and Thanksgiving are behind us. We take down those decorations of ghosts and witches, then a few days later make an epic turkey dinner. Finally, it’s the holiday season and we’re ready to start sharing and sending fruitcakes.
There’s a lot to think about when those December holidays roll around. We’re decorating, shopping, deciding where to order a Christmas tree online. But we’re also thinking about our favorite fruitcakes!
We may be serving fruitcake at Christmas dinner including it when sending a loved one a holiday care package or seasonal gift basket. But no matter where our fruitcakes will be involved this season, it’s important to make sure we’re sending the very best. We want that fruitcake to be one that is remembered, and only in the good sense!
Important reminder: holiday shipping deadlines come up fast in December, so you are going to want to order these fruitcakes very soon to make sure they arrive in time for the festivities!
What Are Fruitcakes?
It’s hard to think about the holiday season and not think about fruitcakes. These cakes are somewhat divisive in some circles, but many families can’t imagine the holidays without them. Part of the draw of the fruitcake is that it is so versatile and can be enjoyed in so many ways. It’s usually made with candied or dried fruit that is mixed with nuts and a variety of warming spices and then drenched in bourbon, rum or other spirits. It is sometimes also enjoyed decorated or with icing. These cakes tend to have a rather long shelf life, which makes it easier to share and send, and while they are most often associated with the Christmas season, they are also very popular for weddings in certain parts of the world, for example in the U.K.
The Complicated History of Fruitcake
Fruitcakes get a lot of bullying in the food world. They are sometimes misunderstood and mocked, and at times have had a bit of a bad reputation. But as with chocolate cake or apple pie or even the beloved cheesecake, there’s always going to be bad fruitcakes and good fruitcakes. While the fruitcake is sometimes misunderstood, those who love it will counter that it can be quite delicious.
For the fan of the fruitcake, there’s a lot to appreciate and admire about this time-honored traditional holiday dessert. It’s boozy, it’s spicy, and it’s so easy to customize to your interests. If you are a fan of rum, make it with rum. If you prefer cognac, go in that direction. If you want to avoid alcohol altogether, that’s fine too. And choose your own fruit adventure, as well as how the fruit will be enjoyed. This may include candied fruit, or dried fruit, as well as a customizable array of nuts and spices. There are so many ways to make this cake your own and create a new tradition to be enjoyed for generations.
Fruitcake naysayers will claim that fruitcakes are unappetizing because they are dry and dense, but that’s actually not true if it’s a good fruitcake. A great fruitcake will be full of flavor, filled with color and spice and a boozy touch, and will be the ideal dessert to enjoy while sipping eggnog and trimming the Christmas tree.
No need to go through the trouble of making your own fruitcake this season, either. There are plenty of great ones available online, ready to be shipped in time for the holidays.
The Best Fruitcakes to Order Online
Beatrice Bakery Grandma’s Original Fruitcake in a Holiday Tin – $24.95
This Nebraska-based bakery makes the much-talked-about Grandma’s Fruitcake, which has a recipe that dates back to 1917! That’s the year that a pair of brothers immigrated from Germany and found their grandmother’s fruitcake recipe in a trunk. That recipe is now the foundation of the Beatrice Bakery Grandma’s Original Fruitcake in a Holiday Tin ($24.95) and packs quite a punch thanks to bourbon, rum, and brandy (but also raisins, cherries, pineapple, walnuts, almonds, and pecans).
Gethsemani Farms Kentucky Bourbon Fruitcake – $42.50
This Kentucky Bourbon Fruitcake is so popular, it’s won a bunch of prizes — and it’s not so much of a surprise, either. Where else to pick up a bourbon fruitcake than the bourbon capital of the world? Coming from Bardstown, Kentucky, the Kentucky Bourbon Fruitcake from Gethsemani Farms ($42.50 for a 2.5 pound cake, but various sizes are available) is made with locally distilled bourbon from James Beam, as well as a mixed fruit blend that includes cherries, raisins, and pineapple.
André’s Confiserie Suisse Holiday Fruitcake – Starts at $20
This third-generation Kansas City bakery is family owned and traces back to Switzerland. Their Holiday Fruitcake ($20 for the small; $70 for the large) is serious business. It takes two months to make, and includes natural, local ingredients; they even make the orange peel in house. From classics like raisins and cherries and pecans to candied lemon and orange peel, this will be a delightful addition to a holiday table.
Backstreet Cafe Fruitcake – $39
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They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that may also include some of their star fruitcakes.
This Backstreet Cafe Fruitcake ($39) is a little bit of a spin on the classic, made from scratch in small batches, and including local touches like toasted Texas pecans, warm spices like cinnamon, ginger and allspice, and fresh and dried fruits soaked in brandy.
Harry & David Grand Traditional Fruitcake – $34.99
Harry & David knows a thing or two about entertaining and they are well known for their gift boxes of pears, but their fruitcake is very special as well. The Harry & David Grand Traditional Fruitcake ($34.99) is delivered bakery fresh in a collectible tin and loaded with pineapple, raisins, walnuts, pecans and glacé cherries.
Williamson’s Spiced Fruitcake – $16.99
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Sugar, spice and everything nice is effectively what you will find in Williamson’s Spiced Fruitcake ($16.99), which is packed with cherries, pineapple, raisins, nuts and a bit of cinnamon and spice. These cakes are based on a 150-year-old recipe, that has withstood the test of time — but it’ll get enjoyed pretty quickly when it makes it onto your table this holiday.
Claxton Fruit Cake – $24.95 (Low Stock)
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The Claxton Fruit Cake Regular Recipe ($23.95) is a fruitcake perfect for those who love a dessert with a bunch of history behind it. Granted, fruitcake in general is steeped in tradition, but this specific brand dates back over a century, and is an undeniable classic. It was even featured at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair! The raisins, candied pineapple, walnuts, glacé cherries, candied lemon, orange peel, pecans, candied papaya and almonds will give it a nutty, savory and fruity flavor which is then flavored with imitation rum, for a classic fruitcake experience. This one’s getting low in stock.
Ackroyd’s Fruitcake – $20.99
This is not the fruitcake we are accustomed to, loaded with preservatives. Fruitcakes from Ackroyd’s are the next level, filled with yummy dates, raisins, sultanas, currants, candied orange peel and walnuts. And don’t worry about that something extra: Dark rum positively drenches the whole cake. Each fruit cake is cooked by hand, in small quantities, on the day it is ordered during the Christmas rush. The Ackroyd’s Bakery Fruitcake ($20) is a must for the holiday season.
Assumption Abbey Fruitcakes
What can be better than spending the holiday enjoying a fruitcake that is favored by royalty? Eat like a king (or a duchess, in this case!) this Christmas, with these dark, rich, delicious fruitcakes made by a team of Missouri monks using a recipe made by Jean-Pierre Augé, a chef who worked in the kitchen of The Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The Assumption Abbey Fruitcakes ($38) are, much like the royal family, steeped in tradition and history.
Giusto Sapore Italian Panettone Original Gourmet Bread – $19.99
Giusto Sapore’s authentic Italian imported Panettone ($19.99 on Amazon) is decadent and rich, and that’s thanks to a recipe rich in butter, raisins and candied fruit like oranges. It has a very Italian flair, and is best enjoyed toasted with some powdered sugar and a hot cup of coffee.
Collin Street Bakery FruitCake (DeLuxe Recipe) – $33.45
You know it’s going to be something special when it makes it to Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” holiday episode. The Collin Street Bakery DeLuxe Fruitcake ($33.45) is world famous, and when you taste it, you’ll know why. Filled with savory and sweet ingredients like pecans, pineapple and honey, this is a sweet and rich cake that will stay fresh all through the holiday season.
Eilenberger’s Bakery World Famous Fruitcake – $38.99
This is another fruitcake with a pretty rich history to back it up. Available on Goldbelly and sent direct from Texas, Eilenberger’s Bakery World Famous Fruitcake ($38.99) is based on a recipe that’s over a century old, brought over from Germany by its founder. The cake is packed with Texas pecans, cherries, tropical pineapple and golden raisins and is made in an egg batter for a lightweight and savory bite.
Gladys’ Bakery Czech Pecan Fruitcake Loaf –$55.95
Fruitcakes are unique in that they can take many different forms. This one has a loaf format, which makes it not only feel homemade but also easier to carry to Grandma’s for dinner. Gladys’ Bakery’s Czech Pecan Fruitcake Loaf ($55.95) is a loaf-style pecan cake covered with rows of cherries and pecan halves. This one is different from a lot of fruitcakes, not only in shape but in the absence of raisins or dates, meaning it’ll feel extra unique when you enjoy it.
Southern Supreme Gourmet Specialties 3-Pound Fruitcake – $38
Some pretty special fruit comes out of North Carolina, and this fruit cake is the fruit (so to speak!) of a family business, based in Bear Creek, North Carolina. The three-pound fruitcake ($38) is huge, and perfect for a large gathering of family and friends. Baked with a mix of nuts, golden raisins, pecans, cherries, dates and more, it’s sure to be the perfect dessert after a night of opening presents.
Anna Mary’s Gourmet Nutcakes – $15.99 to $53.99
This is more a nutcake than a fruit cake, which would be perfect for anyone who doesn’t like anything too sweet and fruity. The Gourmet Nut Cake 1-pound loaf contains over 70% nuts and fruit, with “just enough batter to hold it together.” There’s also a 28-oz. loaf option and 3- and 5-pound ring-shaped cakes to choose from. Check out all your nut cake options. The recipes from this family-owned business all stem from Anna Mary Byler, Amish Mennonite mother of 12. Her children currently operate the business, hand-mixing, hand-packing and hand-decorating the cakes in small batches.
Jane Parker Bourbon & Rum 16 Oz. Loaf – $29.97
Add some tropical flavor to your holiday dessert with the Jane Parker Bourbon & Rum 16 oz. Loaf ($28.97), which is made with bourbon and Caribbean rum. These fruitcakes are special in that they are baked in small batches and filled with raisins, glacé red cherries, glacé golden pineapple, orange peel and crunchy pecans.
Sunnyland Farms Gluten Free Fruitcake – $56.55
If there’s someone attending your holiday gathering with dietary restrictions, it’s important to keep them in mind when planning dessert. The Sunnyland Farms Gluten Free Fruitcake ($56.55) is safe for those who are gluten free, but delicious for everyone. It’s filled with pecans, dates, raisins, pineapple, cherries, cinnamon and cloves.
Zingerman’s Robert Lambert’s White Rare Citrus Fruit Cake – $75
You don’t get much more history than from this fruit cake, which is rooted in a British recipe dating back to the Victorian era. Robert Lambert’s White Rare Citrus Fruit Cake ($75) is made with citrus fruits, like blood oranges, bergamots, Rangpur limes and rare Japanese shekwasha, all handpicked and mixed with homemade Blood Orange Syrup, golden Hunza raisins and nuts soaked in cognac. It is then garnished with a slice of candied lemon and a cedar sprig, for a perfect finishing touch.
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