I enjoy making Orange-Glazed Cranberry Fruitcake during the Christmas season. Made with dried cranberries, raisins, dates, figs, and pecans, it’s not your average fruitcake. Plus, it makes 8 small loaves, so it’s perfect for gift-giving for those on your fruitcake-lovers list.
I’m not sure why fruitcake gets such a bad rap. Maybe because the store bought kind just isn’t very good. A little on the mushy side, and it has those bitter peels in it, which are pretty off-putting to many people.
This Fruitcake Recipe is not your Average Fruitcake!
A few years ago, I watched a Hallmark movie called A Christmas Memory that had Patty Duke in it. The movie was about an older woman and a young boy who helped make her annual fruitcake, which she made months in advance and soaked it in alcohol to preserve it. I found it quite interesting.
It has been my experience that even those who don’t care for fruitcake, enjoy this recipe. Yay! So, I encourage you to give it a try. Here’s to Fruitcake!
See more Holiday Baking Ideas Here.
Ingredients for Orange-Glazed Cranberry Fruitcake
(As a Walmart Affiliate, I earn from qualified purchases at the links below. See the full recipe at the bottom of this post.)
Notes on Ingredients
The listed dried fruits should readily be available during the holiday season. You may or may not want to chop the cranberries and/or raisins. I like to use golden raisins for this recipe.
One of the harder ingredients to find in the past several years has been candied cherries. I’m not sure why. It’s easy to find the fruitcake mix, but that is NOT what you want for this recipe. Look for small containers of red and green candied cherries. I have also used candied pineapple instead of the dried pineapple when it wasn’t available in my stores.
While you only use a 1/4 teaspoon of Fiori di Sicilia, you will not want to leave this important ingredient out of the recipe. Trust me, just a smidge works magic in your baked goods. It provides an amazing scent and taste to the fruitcake. If you’re just not able to splurge on the ingredient, then substitute with 1 teaspoon of almond extract or vanilla extract.
Fruitcake would not be fruitcake if it wasn’t soaked in “spirits”. For this recipe, you may use your favorite rum or brandy. Either will work quite well. I’ve used dark rum, but especially like using Spiced Rum.
Instructions for Making This Recipe
Preheat oven to 325°F. Gather the ingredients so you have everything close at hand on the counter or table. Lightly coat with cooking spray, 4-8 small loaf pans or a mini loaf pan.
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Prepare the Ingredients
Prepare the dried fruits and nuts. Using a knife and cutting board, chop the dried pineapple, dates, figs, and if desired, the golden raisins.
Also chop the candied cherries and set them in a bowl by themselves. With a knife or nut chopper, coarsely chop the pecans.
In a large microwavable bowl, mix together the dried cranberries, pineapple, dates, figs, and raisins with the rum or brandy. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes. Stir and set aside to cool.
Make the Fruitcake
Using a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar. Add Fiori di Sicilia and eggs, beating one-at-a-time.
In a small bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Add to egg mixture alternately with orange juice.
Add to this the undrained infused fruit, candied cherries, and pecans. Mix just until incorporated.
Prepare to Bake the Fruitcake
Spoon the batter into each loaf pan, filling about three-quarters full. Bake in preheated oven for 40-50 minutes until cakes are golden brown at the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, and then turn out onto a wire rack.
If you don’t have enough loaf pans for the entire recipe, clean the used pan(s) and repeat with remaining dough. You may opt to use disposable foil pans or a special mini loaf baking pan, such as Wilton’s Mini Loaf Pan.
Prepare the Glaze
While the cakes are baking, prepare the glaze in a small bowl. Combine granulated sugar, orange juice, and spiced rum or brandy, whisking often until sugar has dissolved.
Brush the tops of the warm cakes with a coat of glaze on the tops and sides. When the cakes have completely cooled, wrap in plastic wrap and allow to rest for 24 hours before serving or giving as gifts to let the flavors fully blend.
You may refrigerate the wrapped cakes for up to a month. If they last that long, brush with sugar syrup and rum weekly before serving. I always refrigerate the leftover glaze in a covered container and use it as needed on the loaves. But you could also make a new batch of glaze to use, too.
Serve slices of Orange-Glazed Cranberry Fruitcake on a pretty platter.
This fruitcake makes wonderful Christmas gifts. Simply wrap in plastic wrap to seal. I always wrap them a second time in aluminum foil, and then place in a freezer bag to refrigerate for up to a month until ready to gift or serve. You may also freeze the fruitcake for up to 3 months.
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Orange-Glazed Cranberry Fruitcake
(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Ingredients
Fruit Mixture
- 2 cups dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup dried pineapple (chopped)
- 1/2 cup dried dates (chopped)
- 1/2 cup dried figs (chopped)
- 1/2 cup golden raisins (chopped)
- 1/2 cup rum or brandy
- 10 oz. candied red and green cherries (chopped)
Fruitcake Batter
- 1 cup butter (room temperature)
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia (This stuff is amazing. Buy Here. It lasts a long time.)
- 4 large eggs
- 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup orange juice
- 2 cups pecans (chopped)
Glaze
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 3 tablespoons rum or brandy
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325℉. Gather your ingredients so that you have everything close at hand on the counter or table. Lightly coat with cooking spray, 4-8 small loaf pans.
Prepare the Ingredients
- Using a knife and cutting board, chop the 1/2 cup dried pineapple, 1/2 cup dried dates, 1/2 cup dried figs, and if desired, 1/2 cup golden raisins. Also chop 10 oz. candied red and green cherries and set them in a bowl by themselves.
- With a nut chopper, coarsely chop 2 cups pecans.
Make the Fruitcake
- In a large microwavable bowl, mix together 2 cups dried cranberries, pineapple, dates, figs, and raisins with the 1/2 cup rum or brandy. Microwave on high for 1-2 minutes. Stir and set aside to cool.
- Cream together the softened 1 cup butter and 2 cups granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add 1/4 teaspoon Fiori di Sicilia and 4 large eggs, beating one-at-a-time.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flourall-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powderbaking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon saltsalt.
- Add to egg mixture alternately with 1 cup orange juice. Add to this the undrained infused fruit, candied cherries, and pecans.
- Spoon the batter into each loaf pan, filling about three-quarters full. Bake in preheated oven for 40-50 minutes until cakes are golden brown at the edges and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 minutes, and then turn out onto a wire rack. (If you don't have enough loaf pans for the entire recipe, clean the used pan(s) and repeat with remaining dough.)
Prepare the Glaze
- While the cakes are baking, prepare the glaze in a small bowl. Combine 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup orange juice, and 3 tablespoons rum or brandy, whisking often until sugar has dissolved.
- Brush the tops of the warm cakes with a coat of glaze on the tops and sides. When the cakes have completely cooled, wrap in plastic wrap and allow to rest for 24 hours before serving or giving as gifts to let the flavors fully blend.
- May refrigerate cakes for up to a month. If they last that long, brush with sugar syrup or rum weekly before serving. Makes 8 small loaves.
Notes
Nutrition
