Fruitcakes

Do you love them or do you hate them?

I loved my mom's fruitcake but never bothered trying others after she stopped making them. Then I discovered "Betty's Fruitcake" made here in town. (Bought it at Pauls) Wonderful wonderful stuff. My friends tease me because I like fruitcake and don't understand why. They buy the nasty, cheap fruitcakes and say "Ewwww, fruitcake, how can you eat that?" I know if they'd take the time to buy a good fruitcake they'd think differently.

What do you think? Epicurean delight or a doorstop?

I totally agree that the nasty, cheap fruitcakes are doorstops, but there are some wonderful ones out there that are Epicurean delights. I've been partial to the Abbey of Gethsemani fruit cakes, but I think, since it has your approval, I will try Betty's Fruitcake this year.

For some thirty years, starting back in my Minnesota years, I faithfully made one called "Kentucky Hoot and Holler Whiskey Cake." I knocked one's socks off. It had to be made before the end of September and lately I just haven't been able to get my rear in gear.

I think the answer is "both." Fruitcakes are either Epicurean delights or doorstops. There is no middle ground.

You rang ?

Door stop.

BTW...so what are those little glow in the dark GREEN thingies in fruit cake ?

Well, I've been called a fruitcake enough in my life that it would be the hight of irony if I didn't love the stuff. Sounds like I will be trying Betty's this year.

Well, I've been called a fruitcake enough in my life that it would be the hight of irony if I didn't love the stuff.

Hmmmmmmm....Personally I'm not going subscribe to that line of reasoning...Not after all the times in my life I've been called an assh***.

Well, I've been called a fruitcake enough in my life that it would be the hight of irony if I didn't love the stuff.

Hmmmmmmm....Personally I'm not going subscribe to that line of reasoning...Not after all the times in my life I've been called an assh***.

OMG!ROFLMAO

Annemarie's Butterfield Farm suggestion looks and sounds good. I 'll try one of those. Gethsemani fruitcakes are deeeelish but I haven't bought one in a long time because I can't find one small enough for just me. Maybe I'll split one with you Gayle.

I had one from Harry & David and while it too had big chunks of fruit, whole nuts and a very arty top display of whole cherries glazed ever so prettily, it was flavorless. My lesson, don't be fooled by good looks.

I was introduced to Betty's several years ago while doing a freelance advertising job involving St. Joe's in Butchertown. I was in the manse talking with one of the brothers and the lady that volunteered her time cleaning the manse. I mentioned how much I loved fruitcake and the cleaning lady disappeared only to return with a Betty's fruitcake. Turns out, Betty was also the cleaning lady for the manse. Wow! How nice was that! Fast forward several years when I'm working at LEO and I mention this act of kindness and how greatly it affected me, to the distribution manager who, it turned out, attended St. Joe's. Within the hour Betty was there with another fruitcake AND a bag of springerly. That was the second time this lovely lady went out her way for a stranger. When I think of God's angels on earth I think of Betty and her spontaneous acts of kindness. Sappy? Perhaps, but it's stuff like that that makes the season for me.
(BTW...I had never really cared for springerly before but those were da bomb. I buy them every year now as a treat for myself.)

seriously the best fruit cake is made by butterfields farms. it's expensive, but not your ordinary cake. first off this cake has no fillers, and then they use whole imported nuts. nothing is chopped it's all whole pieces. and last but not least this cake is loaded with booze galore. 100 proof ky bourbon, rum, and brandy. this is a very moist cake. has been voted worlds best cake.
http://books.google.com/books?id=fVMEAA ... q=&f=false
this cake is the bomb. even people who hate fruitcake love this one.

Annemarie, is this available locally or do I have to order from their website? Also, what size would feed 10-12 people? Keep in mind there will be MANY other desserts. Thanks!

Okay, Carla, I stopped by Paul's yesterday and picked up a small loaf of Betty's Bakery Old Fashioed Kentucky Bourbon Fruit Cake. I also picked up a small loaf of Patti Cakes Cafe Pumpkin Spice Bourbon cake and a small loaf of Kentucky Confectionery Jam Cake. The first two are made here in Louisville; the third, in Lexington. Now my Christmas "baking" is officially done!

Alton Brown has a fruitcake recipe which actually looks pretty good. I've never mustered the courage to try a store-bought fruitcake (the glowing pieces of candied fruit always scared me), but AB' s version uses dried fruit and other "real" ingredients. I've never tried his recipe, but I plan on making it this year.

Fruitcake Recipe

The recipe doesn't look too difficult, and it appears to be highly-rated by the online user community. However, it does require several different dried fruits and other spices. That sounds like a perfectly good excuse to go to Nuts n' Stuff.

This looks like a great recipe. I like the idea of spritzing the cake. Mom always wrapped hers in bourbon/rum/brandy soaked cheesecloth resoaking them every so often.

Sad to say, Betty's Bakery Old Fashioed Kentucky Bourbon Fruit Cake did not pass the taste test. Only one of the five adults at the table yesterday was manage to manage more than one bite. I have all ready put fruitcake making on my September calendar!

The small loaf of Kentucky Confectionery Jam Cake that I picked up at the same time was okay, but that's it - just "okay." The Patti Cakes Cafe Pumpkin Spice Bourbon cake was the most Bourbon laden cake I have ever tasted, a 3"x2"x1/2" slice had at least a full shot of bourbon. The pumpkin paste/flavor was completely overwhelmed. There was no way we were about to let any of the children have a taste.

Other than the fruitcake I plan to make, I think I'll just stick with Gilberto Gelato, Q&A sweet treats cookies and my daughter-in-law's cheesecakes for desserts next year.

Gee Gayle, I am so sorry. Couldn't manage more than a single bite? That must have been one sorry fruitcake! Perhaps you got a bad one because the ones I bought were gobbled -up, right down to the crumbs on the plate. Oh well, to each his own.

Carla, I think the biggest problem was that the amount of citron and lime that was very strong and bitter. I will say that three of adults were from my family and have not known cakes with citron in them. The fifth adult did indeed love the cake and gobbled it all up.