Christmas is a time filled with family, friends, gifts, decorations, and lots and lots of food. When it comes to desserts, there are so many delicious options to enjoy over the holidays. But what is the most popular dessert that people look forward to eating each Christmas? There are certainly some classics like cookies, fruitcake, pie, and more. However, one dessert stands out above the rest as the clear crowd favorite. Fruitcake is the most popular dessert at Christmas time.
Why is fruitcake so popular at Christmas?
Fruitcake has been a staple Christmas dessert for generations. Here are some of the main reasons it has remained the most popular holiday treat:
- Tradition – Fruitcakes are incredibly traditional. Families pass down their own fruitcake recipes going back decades or even centuries. Receiving a fruitcake from a relative is like receiving a little edible piece of family history.
- Long shelf life – Fruitcakes are dense, rich, and pack a lot of preservatives. This allows them to easily last for months without going bad. Fruitcakes baked well in advance of Christmas are still fresh come holiday time.
- Versatility – There are many varieties of fruitcake. Dark, light, nutty, boozy, etc. This versatility appeals to many different tastes and preferences.
- Novelty – Part of what makes fruitcake so fun is the novelty of it. They aren’t a dessert most people eat year-round which makes enjoying it at Christmas more special.
- Nostalgia – Fruitcake sparks nostalgic feelings of Christmases past. Childhood memories of holidays with family are intimately connected with fruitcake.
The unique quality of fruitcake that allows it to age well and remain edible for months on end sets it apart from most other holiday desserts. While cakes, cookies, and pies need to be baked fresh, fruitcake can be baked weeks or months ahead of time. This makes fruitcake ideal for holiday gift giving and ensures it is always available come Christmas season.
The history of fruitcake at Christmas
Fruitcakes have been associated with Christmas for centuries. Looking back at the history of this holiday dessert provides insight into why it became so popular:
- Middle Ages – Fruitcakes originated in Europe during the Middle Ages. Dried fruit was commonly used to sweeten cakes before refined sugars became widely available.
- Victorian era – Having elaborate, rich fruitcakes at Christmas time became especially trendy during the Victorian era in England.
- Weddings – Fruitcakes became linked with weddings which led to them also being seen as a romantic dessert for holidays like Christmas.
- Preservation – Advances in baking preservatives in the 1800s allowed fruitcakes to be aged for lengthy periods of time.
- Gifting – Mail-order fruitcake businesses popped up to meet demand for fruitcakes to give as edible Christmas gifts.
While many foods come in and out of style, fruitcake has remained a constant holiday treat thanks to its rich history and persistent popularity. The tradition of enjoying fruitcake at Christmas grew over centuries and is still going strong today.
What are the key ingredients in fruitcake?
There are many variations of fruitcake out there. But most fruitcakes include these core ingredients that give them their classic taste and texture:
- Fruit – The fruit provides sweetness and moisture. Popular dried fruits used include raisins, currants, cranberries, prunes, apricots, apples, citrus zests, and more.
- Nuts – Nuts like almonds, walnuts, pecans, and macadamias add crunch and flavor.
- Spices – Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and allspice provide warmth.
- Eggs and butter – Eggs and butter or other fats act as binders and add richness.
- Flour – Flour helps give the cake structure and texture.
- Liquor – Many recipes include liquor like brandy or rum which impart moisture and another layer of flavor.
- Honey – Some old fruitcake recipes use honey to sweeten before refined sugars were commonly available.
The exact combination of each ingredient varies by recipe and regional traditions. But fruit, nuts, spices, eggs, butter, flour, and liquor or honey make up the basic template of a classic fruitcake.
Why do people laugh about fruitcake so much?
Fruitcake is often portrayed in popular culture as a cookie people only gift because they want to get rid of it, rather than eat it. But in reality, fruitcake is delicious to many. So why is there a widespread joke that fruitcake is undesirable? A few theories help explain it:
- Mass produced versions from companies like Claxton Bakery gave fruitcake a bad name by providing a lower quality product than homemade cakes.
- Changes in tastes over time mean fewer people enjoy the dense, heavily spiced confection compared to previous eras.
- The very long shelf life made fruitcakes seem old, stale, dried out, and unappetizing.
- Gifting a food product that isn’t universally loved became seen as lazy or thoughtless.
- Comedians and TV shows perpetuated the stereotype of fruitcake as a bad gift through jokes and sketches.
The truth is that many still love fruitcake in all its rich, fruity, nutty glory. The mockery comes more from its reputation as a gift rather than its actual taste. Fresh, homemade fruitcakes bear little resemblance to the paperweight doorstops portrayed in cartoons and movies.
What are some classic ways to serve and eat fruitcake?
While often eaten plain, there are some classic preparation methods and serving suggestions for fruitcake:
- Slice fruitcake and eat it plain or with butter.
- Toasting slices of fruitcake brings out more flavor in stale cakes.
- Pour liquor like brandy over fruitcake – liquor soaked fruitcakes like bourbon cake are delicious.
- Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side to complement the fruitcake’s richness.
- Top slices of fruitcake with whipped cream for added moisture and sweetness.
- Drizzle fruitcake with caramel or chocolate sauce contrasting sweet flavors.
- Serve fruitcake with cups of coffee or tea to balance the density.
Getting creative with how you serve fruitcake elevates it from simple slice to a true dessert. Embrace the decadence by topping it with ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate, caramel, or anything your heart desires!
What are some holidays besides Christmas when fruitcakes are popular?
Christmas is the holiday most associated with fruitcake, but this versatile dessert makes appearances year-round at celebrations including:
- Weddings – Fruitcake is a traditional wedding dessert. White fruitcake is especially popular for weddings.
- Birthdays – Fruitcake’s uniqueness makes it a novelty birthday cake choice.
- Easter – Fruitcake offers variety compared to chocolate bunnies and candy eggs.
- Thanksgiving – The spices in fruitcake pair well with autumn harvest flavors.
- New Year’s Eve – Ring in the new year with a slice of fruitcake and champagne.
Fruitcakes are not just limited to the Christmas season. Their richness helps make any celebration feel a little more special. Serving fruitcake outside the winter holidays also fights the stereotype that they are just a stale Christmas gift.
What are some classic places to find great fruitcake?
While you can find mass produced fruitcake in many grocery stores, looking to specialized bakeries provides a higher quality dessert. Here are some top places to find excellent fruitcake:
- The Swiss Colony – This Wisconsin company has mastered mail-order fruitcake delivery since the 1930s.
- Claxton Bakery – Georgia’s Claxton Bakery claims the title of being the world’s largest fruitcake producer.
- Corsicana Fruitcake Company – This Texas bakery adds pecans to their fruitcakes for even more Lone Star State flair.
- Collin Street Bakery – Located in Corsicana, Texas, this bakery’s DeLuxe Fruitcakes are world famous.
- Local bakeries – Check your own community’s bakeries for fresh, small-batch fruitcakes.
For a truly authentic fruitcake experience, patronize reputable fruitcake companies and bakeries that use quality ingredients and time-honored recipes. Their skilled bakers are fruitcake professionals.
Are there any cities or regions particularly renowned for their fruitcakes?
Fruitcake makers all over the world have put their unique local spin on these cakes. Here are some cities and regions particularly famous for their fruitcake traditions:
- Basilicata, Italy – This region boasts a long history and thriving culture around a dessert called panettonne, a type of fruitcake.
- Dresden, Germany – Dresden Stollen fruitcake originated here and is now protected with a special seal of approval.
- Corsicana, Texas – The Collin Street Bakery and other Corsicana bakers have made this Texas town the fruitcake capital of the U.S.
- Sumbawa, Indonesia – This island’s signature dessert is Sumbawa fruitcake, made with local candied fruits and toasted breadfruit.
- Yorkshire, England – Yorkshire Parkin is a gingerbread fruitcake that’s a Christmas staple in northern England.
From Italian panettonne to fruited German stollen, globally there are many beloved regional fruitcake styles. Traveling and trying the local fruitcake is a delicious way to dive into food culture.
Conclusion
Fruitcake remains the perennial favorite as the most popular dessert at Christmas time year after year. Its long-lasting freshness, classic ingredients, and nostalgic ties to the holidays help cement fruitcake’s a top spot on the dessert table. Laugh all you want at the silly reputation and jokes surrounding fruitcake. But no Christmas is complete without this traditional treat on the menu, sure to satisfy sweet tooths and family tradition alike. Fruitcake – love it or hate it, it tastes like Christmas!
