Description
This Heavenly Moist Fruitcake is tender, buttery, and bursting with dried fruit, candied cherries, nuts, and warm holiday spices. A festive classic that’s moist, flavorful, and perfect for Christmas baking or gifting.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 cups mixed dried fruits (raisins, cranberries, chopped dates, apricots, etc.)
- 1 cup candied fruit mix (red & green cherries, pineapple, etc.)
- 1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
- ½ cup orange juice (or apple juice)
- Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan (or 8-inch round pan) with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla.
- In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gradually add to the wet mixture.
- Fold in dried fruits, candied fruits, nuts, orange juice, and zest until well combined.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 70–80 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cover with foil halfway if the top browns too quickly.
- Let cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
- Optional: Brush the cooled cake with warmed apricot jam or soak with orange juice/brandy for extra shine and moisture.
Notes
- Chop fruits and nuts finely for even distribution.
- Soak dried fruits overnight in juice or rum for added flavor.
- Line pan with parchment to prevent sticking.
- Bake low and slow to keep the cake moist.
- Tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Holiday / Christmas
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 47g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: moist fruitcake, holiday fruitcake, Christmas dessert, fruitcake loaf