Starter for Friendship Fruitcake

"This is a recipe request. I have not made it, but it sounds good! Prep time includes the time the starter needs to grow! Use in Recipe #40994."
 
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photo by Marg (CaymanDesigns) photo by Marg (CaymanDesigns)
photo by Marg (CaymanDesigns)
Ready In:
720hrs
Ingredients:
5
Serves:
5
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ingredients

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directions

  • In a 1-gallon glass jar with a wide mouth and lid, combine the peaches, pineapple, maraschino cherries, sugar and yeast (make sure the yeast is well mixed with syrup).
  • Stir mixture two times the first day.
  • Stir once a day afterward.
  • Do not refrigerate this mixture.
  • Keep loosely covered.
  • Two weeks after starting the starter, add 1/2 cup peaches and 1/2 cup pineapple with syrup.
  • Wait for several days, stirring daily, and drain 2 cups of mixed fruit and use to make cake as directed in the cake recipe.
  • Reserve 1 1/2 cups starter juice and leave in glass gallon jar.
  • Count this as Day One, and start the process for renewing the starter and making the cake.
  • DAY 1: To reserved 1 1/2 cups starter juice (or to starter juice given you by a friend), add 2 1/2 cups sugar and a 2-lb can of peaches with syrup.
  • Stir daily.
  • Keep loosely covered.
  • Do not refrigerate.
  • DAY 10: Add 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar, a 2 pound can pineapple chunks with juice.
  • Stir daily.
  • Keep loosely covered.
  • Do not refrigerate.
  • DAY 20: Add 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar and 8 to 10 oz drained and halved maraschino cherries.
  • Stir daily.
  • Keep loosely covered.
  • Do not refrigerate.
  • DAY 30: Drain fruit, reserving 1 1/2 cups juice for renewing starter.
  • Use drained fruit to make 3 cakes (see recipe), give excess starter juice to friends, and start a new batch of fruit (repeat aforementioned process).
  • At the end of 30 days, you will have enough excess starter juice to give to about four friends.
  • Be sure to keep enough juice (1 1/2 cups) for your own starter.
  • At the end of 30 days, there will be enough fruit to use 1 3/4 cups fruit in each cake, which makes the cake better and doesn't waste the fruit.
  • The cakes can be frozen.
  • It is not necessary to bake all three cakes the same day, but stir the remaining fruit mixture every day until it is used (this fruit mixture can be refrigerated until used).
  • The drained fruit can be frozen until you are ready to bake the cakes.

Questions & Replies

  1. What is the shelf life for friendship fruitcake starter?
     
  2. I have been making this cake for a couple of years now. I got this recipe after my granny passed away and the remaining kids would not share the recipe of hers. I have used the same juice that I make my starter with three years ago. (Obviously what I saved From previous batch). I used one last year that set in the fridge for about six months and it turned out perfect. This one is about 8 months old that has been in the fridge (no mold, still smells like alcohol). Can I keep continuing with the same process using the same reserved liquid or do I add more yeast to help it?
     
  3. This was my original recipe from about 20 years ago. For each cake: 1 1/2 cup fruit 1 box Duncan Heinz yellow cake mix 1 box butter pecan pudding( they don’t make that any more so I use either butterscotch or vanilla) 2/3 cup Wesson oil 4 eggs 1/4 cup pecans. Mix together with a mixer and pour into a greased and floured bunt pan. Bake for 40-60 minutes at 350°
     
  4. My starter keeps getting mole in the top if it, I have never had this problem before, why?
     
  5. I had this starter years ago and my instructions called for fruit cocktail. Has anyone else tried that and how does this recipe compare?
     
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Reviews

  1. leeannr, Thanks again,I am so glad to get this recipe,You have to have the starter recipe or have a start sent to you by a friend,to make this recipe for the friendship cake.and I have lost both starter recipe,and cake recipe.So I was in Heaven when I saw this recipe and the cake recipe.THANKS Darlene
     
  2. My wife did this recipe when we were posted in Doha, Qatar in the Middle East and it is delicious. We gave two of these cakes to some British friends and they consumed both for breakfast. The fruit has a lovely brandy odor when fermenting. LR Beckwith
     
  3. Leeann,thank you so much for the help when I posted in ISO about the cherries!This recipe is so much fun to make.I have never be a fan of fruitcakes but This cake has made me a fan.The little mini cakes that I made,is just the right size for the two of us,and gift giving.Thanks again for sharing:0)
     
  4. My best friend's husband used to always bake these. He feed me friendship cakes all year. She got sick and He ended up dieing a few years ago .Miss my friends and his cakes. Now I have a starter recipe. So when I bake I will remember my 2 wonderful Friends Bill and Erlene.
     
  5. My X-MIL gave me this as a starter and it is wonderful. Many people do not like the standard fruit cake served at Christmas but I will guarantee they will like this. The starter keeps well in the freezer.
     
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