The World's Best Fruitcake

"My dad started making this fruitcake about 30 years ago. Everyone who hates fruitcake likes this, and everyone who likes fruitcake LOVES this. Many people say this is the ONLY fruitcake they will eat. I hope you'll try this. Just follow the directions EXACTLY, and you'll have the most wonderful fruitcake ever!"
 
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photo by Jonathan Melendez photo by Jonathan Melendez
photo by Jonathan Melendez
photo by Brittany H. photo by Brittany H.
photo by Jonathan Melendez photo by Jonathan Melendez
photo by Jonathan Melendez photo by Jonathan Melendez
photo by caseyversage photo by caseyversage
Ready In:
1hr 20mins
Ingredients:
6
Yields:
2 loaves
Serves:
48
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ingredients

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directions

  • Place coconut, dates, and pecan pieces in a very large (7 quart or larger) bowl. With your hands break up chunks of dates & coconut, and stir those 3 ingredients together.
  • Add the cherries, pineapple, and sweetened condensed milk. Stir thoroughly. (I wear non-powdered surgical gloves, and stir it with my hands because the mixture is very stiff.).
  • Let set at room temperature while you prepare the pans. Spray 2 - 9"x5" loaf pans with Pam. Line the pans with waxed (or parchment) paper. (We cut parchment paper in 4 1/4"x 16 1/4" and 8"x 12 1/2" strips for this. You want the paper to come up past the sides of the pans after the mixture is packed into the pans. It seems like a lot of work, but it's well worth the effort!) Now spray the paper (after you've pressed it into the pans) with Pam.
  • Stir the ingredients well again.Divide the ingredients equally between the 2 loaf pans.
  • Pack VERY TIGHTLY and smoothly into the pans. (I wet my hands & press, pack down, & smooth top, using both hands. Wetting your hands keeps them from sticking to "batter".).
  • Place the pans on the middle rack of the oven and bake at 300 degrees F for 1 hour, or until lightly browned. (If the cakes have baked for an hour, or look a little brown around the edges, take them out of the oven & lift edges of paper a little to see if sides look brown enough. If they're brown on sides, but not on top, you may broil the tops for a few minutes-watch carefully.).
  • Remove cakes from oven and let cool for 10 minutes in the pans.
  • Gently lift the edges of the paper a couple of times on each side - kind of a rocking motion. Turn pans upside down onto a paper-lined cookie sheet. Lift pans from the cakes. Remove paper from bottom of cakes IMMEDIATELY.
  • Let cool completely. Place in a large container (don't wrap yet) and refrigerate overnight.
  • Turn cake upside down to slice. After slicing, wrap in waxed (or parchment) paper, then in heavy duty aluminum foil.
  • May be refrigerated up to 3 months or frozen up to 1 year.

Questions & Replies

  1. I don’t like dates. What could I substitute for the dates?
     
  2. No flour ?
     
  3. Are there adaptions for high altitude? I live at 6400 feet.
     
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Reviews

  1. I have a celiac daughter and I can't believe this has no flour in it. So, this is not a typo? Amazing!
     
  2. I finally found my Aunt Katherine's recipe. This is THE BEST fruitcake ever. It is more like candy than cake. I loved it as a kid and never thought I would have it again. Even though, my aunt has been gone for many years, this taste just like I remember.
     
  3. My son was just diagnosed with celiacs disease this past fall. He loves fruit cake and I looked for a good recipe....this was it!! He loved it.
     
  4. Such an easy amazing recipe. A very sweet treat that helps break the stigma attached to fruitcake! Made two loaves-they were done after an hour and I did broil the tops for a few minutes per the instructions. Definitely an easy recipe that is sure to be a crowd pleaser once people throw their reservations about fruitcake out the window.
     
  5. Forgot to add that instead of two loaves, I used small muffin tins to make them. Baked them about 30 minutes
     
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

I'm a stay-at-home mom, school volunteer, church volunteer, etc., and I live in Middle Tennessee. I like to read, visit the mountains, crochet, cook, etc. My favorite cookbook at this time is Recipe Hall of Fame Quick & Easy Cookbook. My passions are raising children with good moral character, being a good Christian, and food! My pet peeves are recipe instructions that leave out what to do with one of the ingredients, and people who won't put their shopping carts in the cart corrals! I have twin daughters who are in their second year of college and a son who is 16. My girls' college is close enough that I can come by every couple of weeks or so. When I tell them I'm coming, they ask Are you bearing baked goods?. Usually, I am, to the excitement of their suitemates!
 
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