Cherry Fruitcake

Submitted by TigerJo

"This fruitcake will not be bitter because it has no citron. I got it from a good friend's Mom in the 80's. When you slice it and hold it up to the light, there is very little cake, and it looks like stained glass. Many "fruitcake haters" have been won over by this cake."

 

• Ready In: 2hrs
• Ingredients: 11
• Yields: 1 fruitcake

ingredients

• 1 lb walnuts or 1 lb pecans
• 1 lb pitted dates, diced
• 8 ounces crystallized pineapple
• 8 ounces candied red cherries
• 8 ounces green glazed cherries
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 whole eggs

directions

1. Using a tube pan (line bottom with two greased layers of greased waxed paper, and grease sides of pan); or using two loaf pans or eight mini-loaf pans (line bottom/sides with two greased layers of waxed paper). Be generous with shortening on the layer next to the cake.
2. Cut pineapple, red and green cherries in half; cut dates in 3 pieces.Using hands, combine pineapple, cherries, dates, and pecans in a large bowl. Add sugar, mix well, and set aside for 10 minutes.
3. Beat eggs& vanilla until light and fluffy; pour over fruit and nut mixture. Using hands, mix well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Pour on above mixture until"syrupy", again, using hands.
4. Preheat oven to 275°F Add cake mixture evenly to pans and pack down tightly. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean, approximately 90 minutes for a tube pan; 1 1/4 hr for 2 loaf pans; and check starting after an hour for mini-loaf pans.
5. Remove cake (s) from oven, cool slightly, and remove waxed paper while still warm.

Reviews

[oneprimalscream]

When I was a little girl, my family would always go to William's Bakery in Strathmore, CA to load up on his wonderful fruitcakes every year. Unfortunately, he shut down his bakery a few years ago. In hopes of getting a recipe that was close to his, I tried this one, and I must say...everyone who tried it loved it! It isn't exact, but it's as close to a William's fruitcake as you can get! I did not add the dates, and I used all red glace cherries instead of green and red. I made a double batch and baked these in mini loaf pans as part of my Christmas basket. All of my recipients were very happy :)

 

[Joan M.]

Why is butter not included in the recipe for the fruitcake?

 

[CJAY8248]

I made this as directed and opted for the 8 mini loaves for x-mas gifts. When I had all the stuff in the pans it didn't look full enough so I only did 6. After baking I wish I'd have chosen the tube pan. They came out looking kind of okay but would have been better a little taller. The taste is fine and the slices do look pretty.

 

[sleepycat]

I spent many hours looking for a fruitcake recipe, and finally decided on this one. It was exactly what I wanted. It was so good I made one way after Christmas. The 2nd time I did use 1/2 the dates, added golden raisins, and dried cranberries, and it came out great, too. Thanks! (Photos show an all green cherry cake.)

 

[kittykittygirl]

Used golden raisins (as another reviewer did). We do not like dates. And used all candied red cherries. This is stained glass fruitcake at it's best.