×
  • Home
  • Daily
    • Buyers Guides
    • Composting
    • Container Gardening
    • Easy Healthy Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Garden Design
    • Garden Tools
    • Gardening LIfe
      • Animals in the Garden
      • Funny Business
      • Gardening History
      • Gardening Humor
      • Gardening Mishaps
      • Gardening Poems
      • Gardening Romance
      • Gardening Science
      • Gardening with Kids
      • Healing Gardens
      • Joy of Gardening
      • Mystical Gardens
      • Ornamental Gardening
    • Growing Fruits & Berries
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Seeds & Seedlings
    • Soil & Fertilizer
    • Spice & Herb Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Watering & Irrigation
  • Freebies
  • Videos
  • Magazines
    • Food Gardening Magazine
    • GreenPrints Magazine
    • RecipeLion Magazine
  • Books
    • GuideBooks
    • Cookbooks
      • Beverages
      • Bakery
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizers
      • Salads & Dressings
      • Soups
      • Entrées
      • Side Dishes & Sauces
      • Desserts
    • Story Collections
    • StoryBooks
    • Recipe Collections
  • Kits
    • Garden Calendars
    • Garden Plans
    • Recipe Cards
    • Greeting Cards
    • ArtPrints
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Program
  • Sponsor Program
  • Give a Gift
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
  • Authors
  • GreenPrints Writer’s Guidelines
  • Keyword Index
  • Join
Celebrating 5 Years of Food Gardening

Food Gardening Network

Growing food, fun & more

Give a GiftJoin
Mequoda Publishing Network
  • Daily
    • Buyers Guides
    • Composting
    • Container Gardening
    • Easy Healthy Recipes
    • Food Preservation
    • Garden Design
    • Garden Tools
    • Gardening Life
      • Animals in the Garden
      • Funny Business
      • Gardening History
      • Gardening Humor
      • Gardening Mishaps
      • Gardening Poems
      • Gardening Romance
      • Gardening Science
      • Gardening with Kids
      • Healing Gardens
      • Joy of Gardening
      • Mystical Gardens
      • Ornamental Gardening
    • Growing Fruits & Berries
    • Indoor Gardening
    • Pests & Diseases
    • Seeds & Seedlings
    • Soil & Fertilizer
    • Spice & Herb Gardening
    • Vegetable Gardening
    • Watering & Irrigation
  • Freebies
  • Videos
  • Magazines
    • Food Gardening Magazine
    • GreenPrints Magazine
    • RecipeLion Magazine
  • Books
    • GuideBooks
    • Cookbooks
      • Beverages
      • Bakery
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizers
      • Salads & Dressings
      • Soups
      • Entrées
      • Side Dishes & Sauces
      • Desserts
    • Story Collections
    • StoryBooks
    • Recipe Collections
  • Kits
    • Garden Calendars
    • Garden Plans
    • Recipe Cards
    • Greeting Cards
    • ArtPrints
  • Sign In
  • Search

Holiday Fruit Cake

Cookbook: Bakery

arrow-left Previous
Next arrow-right

Holiday Fruit Cake

Create a colorful concoction that is bursting with fruity flavors with the Holiday Fruit Cake. This holiday delight is one of the most festive, flavourful, and moist cakes you can dig into. The best part is: It lasts a long time!

By Bill Dugan, Executive Editor

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
Holiday Fruit Cake

Holiday Fruit Cake

I have been acquainted with Holiday Fruit Cake for as long as I can remember. I would first see it in magazines and marvel at how fun and colorful it is. When I started experimenting in the kitchen, I made it a point to make my own Holiday Fruit Cake, and it exceeded all my expectations.

Not only does this marvelous fruit cake taste incredible, but it also looks incredible too! The different fruits that you incorporate into the recipe — like the red cherries, green cherries, and glazed citron — add a spectrum of colors that you can’t help but take pictures of. If you want to make your fruit cake even more colorful, you can add more fruits like oranges and blueberries. The vibrancy of these fruits will add pizzazz to your overall creation.

But that’s not all. Besides the wide selection of fruits, you also get to feel other textures in every bite. The pecans add a particular crunch that’s complemented perfectly by the moistness of the cake itself.

Perhaps you’re wondering how the cake remains so moist even after mixing in so many dry ingredients. The answer is simple: sour cream. Yes, this is quite an unconventional technique, but I find that using sour cream as a substitute for milk does wonders to the softness and succulence of this baked good. You’re probably skeptical right now, but believe me. It works!

The fat content and the creamy texture of the sour cream help retain the natural juices of your cake. What’s more, its acidity content helps reduce the sweetness level and gives it a distinct tangy taste.

The next time you make a Holiday Fruit Cake, try replacing milk with sour cream. You’ll be surprised at how much better your cakes will taste.

Print
Holiday Fruit Cake

Holiday Fruit Cake

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Create a colorful concoction that is bursting with fruity flavors with the Holiday Fruit Cake. This holiday delight is one of the most festive, flavourful, and moist cakes you can dig into. The best part is: It lasts a long time!

  • Author: Addie Gundry
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours
  • Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf 1x
  • Category: Bakery

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup chopped dates
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup glazed red cherries, chopped
  • 1/2 cup glazed green cherries, chopped
  • 1/2 cup glazed citron, chopped
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Coat the parchment paper with cooking spray.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the baking soda and sour cream.
  3. In another small bowl, combine the dates, raisins, cherries, citron, pecans, and ¼ cup of the flour. Stir gently to coat the fruit and nuts.
  4. In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until fluffy and lemony yellow. Mix in the egg until combined, then the salt, followed by the sour cream mixture.
  5. Add the remaining 1 3/4 cups flour in batches, mixing until just combined. Fold in the fruit mixture gently. The batter will be very heavy.
  6. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top.
  7.  Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  8. Set on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Use the edges of the parchment paper to lift the cake out of the pan. Let cool completely before slicing.

Who needs dry, store-bought fruit cakes when you can make a fresh, delicious one at home. Have you tried this one?

arrow-left Previous
Next arrow-right
Comments

Click here to cancel reply.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Dad’s Cinnamon Peach Pie Recipe
  • Zucchini Bread
  • Garden Herb Focaccia
  • Crusty French Bread
  • Rustic Sourdough Bread
  • Classic Sandwich Bread
  • French Strawberry Tart
  • Ooey Gooey Monkey Bread
  • Confetti-Dipped Cookies
  • Cheesy Bacon Crescent Bites
  • Mushroom and Goat Cheese Tart
  • Spicy Gingerbread Cake
  • German Chocolate Cake with Coconut & Pecan Icing
  • Hearty Country Bread
  • English Plum Tart
  • Southern Pie Crust
  • Strawberry Rhubarb Pie with Southern Pie Crust
  • Hungarian Cream Cake
  • Fireball Apple Crumble
  • Pilgrim Pumpkin Pie Recipe
  • Irish Cream Cheesecake
  • Sticky Toffee Pudding with a Minty Twist
  • Irish Soda Bread
  • Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownies
  • The Chunky Peanut Butter Cookie
  • My Dad’s Raspberry Butter Cookies
  • The Dark Chocolate Mixed Nut Healthy Brownie
  • The Keylime Cookie Recipe Story
  • Rolled Oat Cranberry Walnut Cookie Recipe
  • Raspberry Custard Crumble
  • Perfect Peach Crumble
  • Rhubarb Comfort Crumble
  • Spinach and Feta Egg Muffins
  • Apple and Onion Tarte Tatin
  • Upside-Down Maple Apple Cake
  • Apple and Cheddar Galette
  • Maple Pecan Sweet Potato Pie
  • Chocolate Zucchini Bread
  • Classic Apple Pie
  • Sunflower Bread
  • Maple Sage Baked Pear
  • Lavender Shortbread Cookies
  • Coconut Lemon Cake Mix Bars
  • Caramel Chocolate Poke Cake
  • Cake Mix Fruit Cobbler
  • DIY Sourdough Pretzels
  • Springtime Poppy Seed Lemon Cake
  • Lemon Cake Mix Cookies
  • Old-Fashioned Hummingbird Cake
  • Caramel Carrot Cake Poke Cake
  • 5-Ingredient Coconut Macaroons
  • Make-Your-Own Fortune Cookies
  • Layered S’mores Casserole
  • Homemade S’mores Cookies
  • Champagne Cake Mix Balls
  • Heavenly Chocolate–Strawberry Mousse Cake
  • Strawberry Cream Cheese Cookies
  • Lightened-Up Strawberry Breakfast Bars
  • Strawberry–Cream Cheese Salad
  • Caramel Praline Bread Pudding
  • Red Velvet Cake Thumbprints
  • Secret Ingredient Chocolate Cake
  • Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
  • Soda Berry Bake
  • Fruity Peach Cake
  • Cream Cheese Magic Bars
  • Double Chocolate Shortcut Cookies
  • Maple Apple Cookies
  • Apple Fritter Bake
  • Make-Ahead Flax Cookies
  • Chewy Lemon Coconut Cookies
  • Heavenly Lime Bundt Cake
  • New Favorite Carrot Cake Roll
  • Squeeze The Day Lemon Squares
  • Going Bananas! Banana Pudding Poke Cake
  • Perfect Bisquick Cinnamon Rolls
  • Sourdough Soft Pretzels
  • Satisfying Snickerdoodles
  • Orange & Pecan Crunch Cake
  • Sinful Cinnamon Roll Cake
  • Southern Citrus Pound Cake
  • Easy Zucchini Bread
  • Cast Iron Skillet Biscuits From Scratch
  • Cheesy Pull Apart Bread
  • 4-Ingredient Artisan Bread
  • Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Filling
  • Peppermint Cookie Balls
  • Italian Christmas Cookies
  • First Snow Cookies
  • Christmas Magic Bars
  • Homemade Gingerbread People
  • Apple Nut Pie
  • Cranberry Pecan Lattice Pie
  • Fall Day Pumpkin Pie
  • Slow Cooker Dinner Rolls
  • Homemade Popovers with Chives
  • Mini Strawberry Shortcakes
  • Italian Love Cake
  • 10-Minute Miracle Cookies
  • 1970s Harvey Wallbanger Cake
  • 2-Ingredient Lemon Bars
  • 20 Minute 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Cake Cookies
  • 3 Ingredient Lemon Bars
  • 3-Ingredient Old-Fashioned Shortbread Buttons
  • 3-Layer Nanaimo Bars
  • 6-Ingredient Cinnamon Rolls
  • Addie’s Confetti Cake
  • Alex’s Cowboy Cookies
  • Almond Honey Cake
  • Amazing Amish Applesauce Cake
  • Angel Food Cake
  • Annie’s Apple Crisp
  • Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake
  • Autumn Spice and Everything Nice Cake
  • Baby Shower Cake
  • Baked Stuffed Apples
  • Banana Bread Bites
  • Banana Cheesecakes
  • Beet Brownies
  • Best Baked Alaska
  • Best Banana Pudding Poke Cake
  • Best-Ever German Chocolate Cake
  • Best-Ever Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies
  • Best-in-Show Blackberry Cobbler
  • Birthday Funfetti Layer Cake
  • Bite-Size Cinnamon Roll Cookies
  • Bite-Size Pecan Pies
  • Black Forest Cake
  • Blackberry Chocolate-Chip Pie
  • Blackberry Pastry Bread
  • Blueberry Angel Food Sheet Cake
  • Blueberry Muffin Cookies
  • Boston Cream Pie
  • Bouquet of Roses Cake
  • Brownie Butter Cake
  • Buttermilk Spice Layer Cake
  • Buttermilk Strawberry Shortcake
  • Buttery Thumbprints
  • Candied Lemonade Cake Bread Recipe
  • Cannoli Poke Cake
  • Carrot Cake Poke Cake
  • Cheddar-Thyme Biscuits
  • Cherry 7UP Pound Cake
  • Cherry Pie
  • Cherry Pie
  • Chewy Brownie Cookies
  • Chewy Classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
  • Chewy Maple Sugar Cookies
  • Chewy Molasses Cookies
  • Chocolate Chip Bars
  • Chocolate Chip Cookies ‘n’ Cream
  • Chocolate Kiss Surprise Powder Puff Cookies
  • Chocolate Lover’s Zucchini Cake
  • Chocolate Oreo Cake
  • Chocolate Pear Cake
  • Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars
  • Chocolate Pound Cake
  • Chocolate Shortbread
  • Chocolate Turtle Poke Cake
  • Christmas Magic Squares
  • Christmas Vanilla Cake Roll
  • Church Cake
  • Cinnamon Pecan Coffee Cake
  • Cinnamon Whiskey Cake
  • Classic Blueberry Pie
  • Classic Buttery Pound Cake
  • Classic Carrot Cake
  • Classic Chocolate Cake
  • Classic French Madeleines
  • Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Classic Seven Layer Magic Bars
  • Classic Texas Sheet Cake
  • Clean-Eating Carrot Cake
  • Confetti Cool Whip Cookies
  • Corn Bread with Scallions
  • Corny Cornbread
  • Cranberry Pear Cobbler
  • Cranberry White Chocolate Macadamia Cookies
  • Crazy Good Cranberry Orange Cookies
  • Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Cream Cheese Strawberry Cookies
  • Cream Cheese-Filled Monkey Bread
  • Creamy Lemon Angel Cake
  • Crescent Roll Pecan Pie Bars
  • Crowd Pleaser Pumpkin Pie
  • Crunchy Whole Wheat Apple Crisp
  • Crushed Pineapple Cake Casserole
  • Dandy Diner Dream Cake
  • Danish Spice Cookies (Speculoos)
  • Dark Hot Chocolate Cake
  • Deep-Dish Chocolate Chip Pie
  • Delicious Pumpkin Purée
  • Delightful Donut Casserole
  • Dill Seed Braided Bread
  • Dreamboat Caramel Bars
  • Dreamsicle Cake
  • Dreamy Orange Bars
  • Easy Apple Pie Dump Cake
  • Easy as Apple Pie Bars
  • Easy Butter Pecan Cake Mix Squares
  • Easy Buttermilk Cornbread Muffins
  • Easy Chocolate Cherry Blossom Cookies
  • Easy Gingerbread Cookies
  • Easy Oatmeal Coffee Cake
  • Easy Oatmeal Cookies
  • Easy Peach Pie
  • Easy Pumpkin Spice Roll
  • Easy Strawberry Shortcake
  • Easy Whole Wheat Bread
  • Easy Whole Wheat Cheese Biscuits
  • Espresso Sugar Cookies
  • Five-Layer Chocolate Cherry Bars
  • Flourless Pumpkin Muffins
  • Fluffy Layered Coconut Cake
  • Fluffy Lemon Chiffon Cake
  • Four-Ingredient Molten Nutella Lava Cake
  • Fresh Cherry Cobbler
  • Funfetti Cake Batter Cookies
  • Funfetti Dump Cake
  • Georgia Peach Pound Cake
  • Ginger Snaps
  • Glazed Coconut Pound Cake
  • Glazed Rum Cake
  • Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownies
  • Gooey Magic Cake Bars
  • Gooey Turtle Bars
  • Gooiest Butter Cake
  • Gooseberry Pie
  • Grandma’s Famous Jimmy Cake
  • Grandma’s Magic Cake
  • Grandma’s Spice Cookies
  • Grandmother’s Lazy Daisy Cake
  • Grape and Pear Pie
  • Greek Yogurt Cake
  • Half-Moon Cookies
  • Harvey Wallbanger Cake
  • Heaven and Hell Cake
  • Holiday Fruit Cake
  • Holiday Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Homemade Cracker Candy
  • Homemade Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Hot Milk Cake
  • Hubby’s Favorite Dump Cake
  • Inside-Out Cream Puff Cake
  • Italian Lemon Mini Pound Cakes
  • Just Peachy Pound Cake
  • Kentucky Butter Cake
  • Key Lime Angel Food Cake
  • Layered Gingerbread Cake
  • Lemon Chiffon Layer Cake
  • Lemon Crazy Cake
  • Lemon Crinkle Cookies
  • Lemon Donuts
  • Lemon Meringue Bars
  • Lemon Thyme Tea Bread
  • Loaded Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
  • M&M’s Drop Cookies
  • Magic Christmas Cookies
  • Magic Tomato Soup Cupcakes
  • Malted Milk Ball–Marshmallow Brownies
  • Maple Banana Whole Wheat Muffins
  • Maple Glazed Sour Cream Coffee Cake
  • Mardi Gras King Cake
  • Millionaire Marshmallow Fluff Cake
  • Mint Chocolate Cookies
  • Mint Patty Cake
  • Mocha Dot Cookies
  • Monster Cookies
  • Nana’s Best Coconut Macaroons
  • North Pole Lemon Cookies
  • Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Raisin Bars
  • Oh Sweet! Potato Pie
  • Old-Fashioned Fruitcake
  • Onion-Topped Focaccia Bread
  • Oreo Pudding Poke Cake
  • Parmesan Chive Drop Biscuits
  • Patriotic Firecracker Cake
  • Peach Cobbler
  • Peanut Butter Bacon Bars
  • Peanut Butter Banana Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Cup Cake
  • Peanut Butter Mocha Brownie Cookies
  • Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
  • Peanut Butter Swirl Bars
  • Pear Crisp
  • Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
  • Pecan Sandies
  • Peppermint Crunch Cookies
  • Pillow-Soft Ginger Cookies
  • Piña Colada Dump Cake
  • Pineapple Coconut Cake
  • Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
  • Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
  • Pink Lemonade Bundt Cake
  • Pumpkin Angel Food Cake with Cinnamon Whipped Cream
  • Pumpkin Crème Brûlée
  • Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Surprise
  • Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake Bars
  • Pumpkin Spice Dump Cake
  • Raspberry Jelly Cake Roll
  • Raspberry Oatmeal Cookie Bars
  • Raspberry Ricotta Cake
  • Raspberry Streusel Bars
  • Red Velvet Cream Cheese Bundt Cake
  • Refrigerator Fudge Cake
  • Retro Bundt Cake Noodle Ring
  • Ricotta Cookies
  • Rugelach
  • Salted Caramel Maple Cookies
  • Samoa Bundt Cake
  • Sinful Cinnamon Cake Roll
  • Snickerdoodle Cake
  • Snickerdoodles
  • Snickers Poke Cake
  • Soda Pop Cookies
  • Soft Peanut Butter Cookies
  • Sour Cream & Scallion Biscuits
  • Southern Caramel Cake
  • Southern Pecan Pound Cake
  • Sparkling White Chocolate Cranberry Cake
  • Spring Carrot Cake
  • Star Anise and Coriander Spice Cake
  • Stir and Bake Bars
  • Strawberry Bars
  • Strawberry Jell-O Poke Cake
  • Summer Squash Bread
  • Super Chewy Chocolate Brownies
  • Sweet Potato Biscuits
  • Texas Gold Bars
  • Texas Tornado Cake
  • The Best Angel Food Cake
  • The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever
  • The Buttery Sugar Cookie
  • The Ultimate Berry Crumble
  • Toffee Butter Icebox Cookies
  • Traditional Spice Bars
  • Triple Berry Pie
  • Triple Peanut Butter Bars
  • Tropical Paradise Cookies
  • Ultimate Cookie Layer Cake
  • Victoria Sponge Cake
  • Watermelon Fruit Rollups
  • Whipped Cookie Delight
  • Winter Squash Bread
  • Zebra Bars
  • Zucchini Cake with Browned Butter Frosting

Enter Your Log In Credentials

This setting should only be used on your home or work computer.

  • Lost your password? Create New Password
  • No account? Sign up

Need Assistance?

Call Food Gardening Network Customer Service at
(800) 777-2658

Food Gardening Network is an active member of the following industry associations:

  • American Horticultural Society
  • GardenComm Logo
  • GardenComm Laurel Media Award
  • MCMA logo
  • Join Now
  • Learn More
  • About Food Gardening Network
  • Contact Us
  • Affiliate Program
  • Sponsor Program
  • Give a Gift
  • Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

Food Gardening Network
99 Derby Street, Suite 200
Hingham, MA 02043
support@foodgardening.mequoda.com

To learn more about our Email Marketing and Broadcasting Services, Exchange Program, or to become a marketing partner with any of our publications, click here to contact us at Mequoda Publishing Network.

FREE E-Newsletter for You!

Discover how to grow, harvest, and eat good food from your own garden—with our FREE e-newsletter, delivered directly to your email inbox.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Powered by
Mequoda Publishing Network
copyright © 2025 Mequoda Systems, LLC

Food Gardening Network®, Food Gardening Magazine® and GreenPrints® are registered trademarks of Mequoda Systems, LLC.