It has been said that the Mrs. White’s first fruitcake recipe was created by medieval cooks who used a little sugar and honey to mask the taste of dried fruit. Fruitcake recipes were often passed down through generations of families.
It is unknown whether Mrs. White, who shared her family recipe with us, was the first to create it. By reading the ingredients, we know this recipe can’t be older than the 1800s.
The key to the perfect fruitcake is in its preparation. Mrs. White is retired, and we still enjoy a slice yearly around Christmas!
From what we understand, Mrs. White’s fruit cake recipe fell in love with this recipe after making it for a church fundraiser party in 1947 when she was barely 20 years old!
How To Prepare Mrs. White’s Fruit Cake Recipe?
Preparation Time: 1 hour
Cooking Time: 2 hours
Total Preparation Time: 3 hours
Serving Size: 18 slices
Equipment:
- Mixer,
- Medium Mixing Bowl,
- Baking Pan,
- Measuring Cup
- Spoons
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of dried fruit (apples, apricots, peaches)
- 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or almonds)
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 Cups flour (all-purpose unbleached flour)
- One teaspoon of lemon zest
- One teaspoon of ground cinnamon (optional)
- Five eggs (separated into yolks and egg whites)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
Directions For Mrs. White’s Fruit Cake Recipe:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 300°F.
Step 2: Prepare fruit, if necessary. (Remove stems, etc.). Measure 1 cup of chopped nuts and set aside.
Step 3: In a mixing bowl, rub or cut the butter using a fork or pastry blender until it resembles small peas. Add in sugar until well blended.
Step 4: Add salt, cinnamon, lemon zest, and flour until well blended. Add chopped nuts and mix thoroughly.
Step 5: In a separate mixing bowl, beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
Step 6: Add egg whites to the batter, one spoonful at a time, while folding in gently with a spatula.
Step 7: Spread batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 2 hours or until the top is firm and lightly golden brown. Remove and allow to cool before cutting. To serve, I recommend buttering and serving on small plates or slices.
Nutrition Facts Of Mrs. White’s Fruit Cake Recipe
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 434 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 66.1 gm |
| Cholesterol | 42 mg |
| Fat | 12 gm |
| Fiber | 3.2 gm |
| Protein | 3.9 gm |
| Sodium | 455 mg |
Incredible 9 Healthy Nutrition Benefits Of Mrs. White’s Fruit Cake Recipe
1. Reduces the risk of heart disease and death by lowering cholesterol.
2. Increases brain power, memory, and learning abilities and promotes long life in healthy elderly.
3. Promotes good eye health, vision, bone strength, and hearing by elevating bone mineral density in the body.
4. Helps lower blood pressure, vital to good health, especially for people over 50 years old who are at a higher risk for heart disease and stroke from damage to blood vessels caused by high blood pressure.
5. Helps reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other forms of cardiovascular disease.
6. Helps increase the body’s ability to fight cold and flu-like symptoms by boosting the immune system.
7. Helps maintain normal blood sugar levels for healthy organs, muscles, and nerves, which is vital for people who have diabetes or pre-diabetes or
hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) If you are over 50 years of age, you have a higher risk for these conditions in your lifetime.
8. Promotes normal blood pressure for better body organs, muscles, and nerves.
9. Promotes healthy bones, cartilage, and connective tissues for a long life by maintaining good bone mineral density in the body.
Is It Called Christmas Cake?
It is called Christmas cake because it is consumed during the holiday season. I know some people who refer to it as fruit cake, and others call it Christmas fruit cake.
It doesn’t matter what you call it because the recipe is still the same.
Is This Cake Used Alcohol?
Yes. One small bottle of whiskey or cognac will give the alcohol in this cake a more delicious taste. Use half a bottle of whiskey or cognac if you wish.
Can I Substitute Vegetable Oil For Butter?
The texture won’t be the same. Vegetable oil is not as dense and stays in cakes very well, meaning it won’t fall out because it won’t melt when cooked.
However, butter remains melted throughout baking, resulting in a more fluffy consistency.
What Is The Best Liquor To Soak Fruitcake In?
All the ingredients are already soaked in the fruitcake for the two hours it is baking, so you don’t have to soak it in additional liquor.
It is a tradition. Some people have to add liquor to the recipe, and some don’t. Some say adding alcohol destroys the fruitcake, so they prefer to skip that step.
How Long Will A Fruit Cake Last With Alcohol?
When added, alcohol gives the cake a more delicious taste and softens the fruits. That said, it won’t last as long because alcohol is a type of preservative.
Alcohol will not keep fruitcakes from going bad. It just tastes better and has a softer texture when soaked in whiskey or cognac.
Conclusion
On the whole, this recipe can be considered a healthy fruitcake recipe. It might not be for you if you are looking for a heavy and dense fruitcake.
This can quickly become one of your favorite recipes because it does not stick to your teeth when consumed!
FAQ
Can I Make This Recipe In Advance?
Yes, you can. As it bakes, there is no need to open the oven door or stir the cake for two hours.
How Often Should You Put Alcohol On Christmas Cake?
Many people have debated this question, and the most common answer is that you can use 1/4 cup of alcohol for every 2 cups of dried fruit.
When Should You Start Your Mrs White’s Fruit Cake Recipe?
Start this recipe the night before or in the morning so it can bake in time for Christmas breakfast.
What Are The Steps To Make A Fruitcake?
This is a simple recipe. Prepare your ingredients, mix everything by hand, and bake. If you have fresh or frozen fruits, you can use that instead of dried fruit.
