A Good Fruitcake Is No Laughing Matter

By Author: Shannon Lindsey
Total Articles: 223
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Most people are familiar with the old joke that there is only one fruitcake in the world; it just keeps getting passed around because "no one likes it." Au contraire. It could be that most people don't realize how good fruitcake should taste.

Fruit cake has taken a lot of abuse in recent years, but there is a reason why it is a holiday tradition. According to the Joy of Cooking, fruit cakes are mainly butter cakes that only contain enough batter to bind the fruit, which is usually candied fruit. The finished cake is soaked in various liquors and covered in powdered sugar to prevent mold. They can be kept for many years in a tin or another sealed container.

People have eaten fruit cakes for centuries. The German version is called Stollen and includes almonds and spices such as cinnamon. In Italy, fruit cake is known as Panforte. It is a chewy version that is baked in a shallow pan.

Far from there being only one fruit cake in the world, there are actually many varieties. Some delicious varieties feature apricots, pineapple, macadamia nuts, apples and chocolate.

Because fruit cake preserves well, it ...
... is a great gift idea. It is a featured product in gourmet gift baskets. It is a stunning and tasty gift and even better when accompanied by such items as gourmet peanut butter and chocolate.

Many fruit cake fans recommend not eating it right away. Set it aside so that the liquor has a chance to age the fruit. Fruit cakes have been known to last 25 years or even longer, so there is very little risk of spoilage. This is due to the alcohol and the sugar content.

The holidays, when fruit cakes traditionally make their appearance, are all about indulgence, so it is not a good thing to worry about the nutritional value of fruit cake. Still, if one must know:

Fruit cake contains about 140 calories, depending on the recipe used and the size of the serving. This is comparable to angel food cake which also typically has less than 200 calories. It is far better than banana cake, which has more than 400 calories
Fruit cake also has about 5 grams of fat, but no saturated fat; 115 mg of sodium, 25 grams of carbohydrates, including 2 grams of fiber, and 1 gram of protein. Fruit cake also provides small amounts of iron, riboflavin, niacin, foliate, phosphorus and magnesium. Fruit cake contains no cholesterol.

While fruit cake can in no way be considered health food, it is not as sinful as other holiday treats. When prepared the right way, it really can taste as decadent as those other treats.

This year, consider giving a gift of gourmet fruit cake from a company with years of experience in their preparation. Gourmet fruit cake companies use the highest quality ingredients to assure the best tasting product.

Giving a sampler of fruit cake varieties will expose the recipient to a wonderful holiday tradition. Gourmet fruit cakes will not be passed from home to home; they will be put aside and savored for years to come.