Poll: Fruitcake - love it or hate it?

[lindrusso]

Oh happy day - I received both my MSL magazine and Cooking Light in the same day!

Well, in Martha's magazine, they call fruitcake "the dessert everyone loves to hate". The article goes on to say "you'll miss out if you dismiss it" and offers 5 recipes.

So, I'm wondering - do you love it or hate it?

Me? Hate it.

I'll be sticking to the MSL article on 17 ways to make shortbread - now THAT'S something I can get excited about.

[HARRYET]

don't think i could bring myself to eat fruitcake! my vote is Hate it!

[Beth]

Is this going to be a hand count?

I have a button that says, "Get even. Give Fruitcake!" I tried baking it to see if that made a difference. Can't say that it did. Put my mark in the H column.

[Ed]

Hi Lindrusso,

I just love Fruitcake.

What's not to like. Fruit and Cake are good, and the fruit is healthy. You could call it health food.

Years ago before I retired I was in my office on a Friday before Christmas, it was towards the end of the afternoon and things for most people were winding down.

While I was returning some calls and processing some papers, I could hear some pleasant conversation coming from the lobby and reception area. I could hear my assistant and one of the Sales people from my staff visiting with someone and talking about the Holidays.

Well as a few minutes went by I could smell Whiskey--Brandy-- I thought, boy it smelled good. (I should point out that I stopped drinking Alchohol back in 1970, so by this time it had been about 21 or so years since I had an alchoholic beverage.)

I kept on with my paper work thinking that my imagination was working overtime, but, the talking got louder and more boisterous, and the smell became more prominent.

Well, to shorten this story up a little, I left my office and went out there to see what was going on.

I said Hi, can I join in? Well, the agent and my assistant introduced me to this nice old retired Gentleman, who was a client of the agent and who was also a retired baker. He had brought in a couple of Fruit Cakes to give to his agent and as She & my assistant were visiting with him, a letter opener was produced and they were enjoying the first Fruit Cake. It smelled Wonderful.

After I got there they shared a piece of it with me, it was Heavenly. I joined the conversation.

We finished off the first Fruit Cake and started on the second. More conversation.

This retired Baker made these to give away. He started in July or August and baked them, wrapped them in Cheesecloth, Refrigerated them, sprinkled them with Brandy, let them sit, sprinkled them with Brandy again, let them sit--well he sprinkled them with brandy right up until Chrismas time when he went around delivering them.

Well, we finished the second fruit cake. Closed the office a bit early, and I went home to get Sharon and go out for supper.

When I came into the house she smelled the Brandy & asked about it--I don't remember what she said exactly-- but it was something to the effect of what was I doing. Well, I said I've been eating Fruit Cake.

I've never had such good Fruit Cake before or since, but I keep searching.

Ed

[Carolyn]

Can't tope your story, Ed, but I agree with you. I love it! BUT... it must be made roughly the way you describe, although I start mine about Nov. The important thing is to keep annointing it with brandy, or rum, or whatever. By the time you eat it, it should be quite...um...potent, I guess is the word. Also I have discovered that I do not like any pinapple in my fruitcake mix and if I buy prepared mixed fruit, it is hard to find it without pinapple. Given the right ingredients, it is a wonderful way to get your fruit for the day.

[Zinnia]

All I can say is http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif!! I absolutely, positively do NOT like fruitcake. I don't even know people that like it! All I can say
is you fruitcakes are really brave to eat that stuff http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif lol! Happy Thankgiving! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Zinnia

[Natasha]

Wellll...provided that it s homemade, a light fruitcake as opposed to a dark one, and doesn t have any marzipan or other topping, I can manage to make myself eat about 1-2 small slices a year. And I admit that I kind of enjoy eating them, because it means it s Christmastime, but not because I care much for the taste. I don t think I technically belong in the H column, though I m closer to that than the L column!

As for Dec. magazines, I started going through Bon Appetit last night and saw quite a few things I d like to try. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[SusanL]

Got to save LOVE IT without the citron(sp?) The recipe we have says to cut it into thin slices, it looks like "stained glass windows". Lots of dried cherries, dates, pecans, and no citron! A definite Christmas tradition in our house. I don't call it fruitcake, it is our pecan cake! That way I don't hear the groans-we received the get even-give fruitcake card too!

[Mamasue]

You can put an H next to my name. My mother goes through all the motions every single year making this cake.....ewwwwww

Oh, Lindrusso....last month I received both my MSL and CL at the same time and was in heaven....two of the best magazines that get delivered to my house. CAN'T WAIT!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by Mamasue (edited 11-21-2000).]

[emilycat]

You know, I was thinking at first that I loathed this stuff, but after reading Ed's lovely story (Ed, you should be a columnist, by the way; your posts always entertain me greatly http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif )and the others' who love it, I'm really not sure. I feel like I should like it, because it's drenched in brandy, sherry, whatever (I must admit, I have an affinity for alcohol-enhanced desserts http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif ) . Maybe I'll give it another try this year, if I come across any. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[phantomcg]

Well, I have to admit that I have never had fruitcake (at least not that I remember). My mom made it one year, but I don't remember every eating any. I know that she took it with us to our family Christmas (around 25 people back then, sure do miss that) but I was young and I'm sure that I went for the other desserts!!

Cheryl

[MrsReber]

Now, I don't know if this is true, but I have heard that there are only 11 fruitcakes in existence. They are simply re-circulated each Christmas season.

My mom made a fruitcake one year with rum. She continued to follow the directions and "baste" it with rum. Well, I only had a taste of this cake. I mean, if I want a glass of alcohol, I'll have a drink. Whew! By the time the cake was gone, nobody even cared what was in it!

My vote? I never liked fruitcake. I hate those chewy things in it.

[lindrusso]

Ed,

That is a very nice story, but I'm afraid I'm inclined to never like fruitcake. I have an aversion to hard alcohol (I'm a wine, beer and champagne gal) and pretty much don't like anything with rum, brandy, etc. I also have an aversion to candied fruit. So, you see, fruit cake just isn't for me! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Happy Holidays and thanks for sharing such nice thoughts.

[lorilei]

I suppose I am one of the minority here -- I love the stuff.

I am probably the product of fortune, as my mother makes a beautiful dark fruitcake that is simply "beyond description". Moist, flavorful and extraordinarily sinful.

It is definitely not the hard block of fruitcake that you'd buy in the store (the one which has become the brunt of many holiday jokes) -- nor is it the dry type of cake that I've had the misfortune of encountering.

Fruitcake has become an integral part of our family celebration -- there are many "mmm's" and "ahhh's" around the table whenever my mother serves her fruitcake... and a great number of complaints when she doesn't http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Vanessa]

In CL N/D 1994 page 100 there is a fruitcake that is excellent. I think a lot of people don't like fruitcakes because of those grren red candied fruits etc and because they are not moist. A dark, rich , moist fruitcake enhanced by bourbon or brandy is a treat.
But....fruitcake is a you love or hate cake.
My mom in law loves fruitcake.

[sneezles]

My first thought when I started to read this thread was...DON'T YOU PEOPLE EVER SLEEP!
But back to the subject. I never liked fruitcake until we spent one Christmas in Scotland and my good friend, Margaret, had made one. She must have the same recipe as Ed's elderly baker! It was a dark cake that had been drizzled(?), more likely soaked in brandy and not just any brandy(I have had some pretty lousy brandies). So you can keep those light ones that come in that tin and I'll take the homemade dark one that Mragaret makes-she keeps promising me the recipe but last year she couldn't remember where she had stashed it! Too much cake for her!

[emilycat]

Okay, lorilei, Ed, Carolyn, you all knew someone had to ask if you were going to write so alluringly of this lucious fruit cake. I'm going nuts here with sinful thoughts of brandy-soaked cake. Do any of you have a recipe for this illustrious dessert? I promise to use it and not just stick it in my recipe book to ogle at. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif
Em

[Beth]

We have made a pecan cake that is similar to a fruit cake, but lighter. I like that better, but still not something I would chose to eat. I agree with the person who says Hate might be too strong for something you can just chose not to eat. I recognize that there are many versions and something for everyone, but I'll never buy fruitcake being a healthy treat. It's a heavy cake batter, lots of sugar-syrup saturated fruits that have lost resemblence to anything that was ever fresh, high-fat nuts, and more empty calories in the alcohol. Love the taste if you will, indulge and enjoy, but don't try to sell me on it being healthy!

[Wendy w]

Friends don't give friends fruitcake! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

Yuck!

Wendy

[melissadh]

To keep it brief-- I don't like it, never have and don't think I ever will.

[SusanD]

One word...GROSS!

[TraceyK]

You must try the Chocolate Fruit Cake from Spoon Foods! I'm not a fruitcake person myself, but this is divine!

[shoefling]

Never had it. Do I want to? After reading through these replies, I don't think so!

[pvavricka]

Yuck!!!! (Wendy, I totally agree with you!)

Penny

[Ohioan]

TraceyK -
Thanks for the tip; I just ordered a chocolate fruitcake from American Spoon Foods on your say-so, and I can hardly wait. I'll let you know how I like it. (Hey, if it's chocolate, it has to be good, right?) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Cheers, Phoebe

[kwormann]

Hate it! kim

[SusieO]

Loved Ed's story. Hate fruitcake.

[jjf]

hate it - the texture, taste - everything. although your story was great ed http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Susan]

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif B L E C H ! ! ! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/eek.gif

I'm the only one in my family to loathe it! No thanks...

[Stephanie]

Don't know how they get the fruit to be that color, so I won't eat it.

YUCK!

[AndreaU]

Simply put... hate it!

[LonormiManuel]

Love the sweet homemade kind that is tucked away in someone's fridge for about a month, wrapped in bourbon- or brandy-soaked cheesecloth.

Hate the pre-packaged, factory-made bricks that you find in the store! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[BevP]

Hate it.

[Ohioan]

TraceyK -

I received my chocolate fruitcake from American Spoon Foods today, and alas, alas, it was so buttery that I couldn't even swallow it. But for someone who likes butter, I imagine it would be scrumptious: very chocolatey and liqueur-y. I'm going to take it to work tomorrow and give it to one of the department secretaries.

Wish I could get past that buttery taste to the chocolate....

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gifSighs of regret,
Phoebe

[Colleen]

Honestly, I've never tried it. I haven't gotten up the nerve. Especially to make it myself. It has such a bad reputation.