Christmas 2022: History Of The Popular Christmas Fruitcake & Its Recipe

The best time of the year is here. The moment you step out, there are Christmas trees and Christmas lights everywhere making red and green our favourite colours. From yummy Christmas cakes to exciting Christmas gifts, every year Christmas brings out the best in us for all the right reasons.

Christmas 2022: History Of The Popular Christmas Fruitcake & It¡¯s Recipe | Unsplash

During Christmas festive season, EVERYONE LOVES CHRISTMAS CAKES! And we are no exception. We love a nice slice of moist, rum-infused, drizzled with dried fruits, and Christmas cake. But what do we love even more? When we know the history and origin of our classic Christmas cake loaded with a number of nuts, berries, candied fruits, raisins, apricots, figs, dates etc. So, let's find out, how did fruitcake become synonymous with Christmas? Read on to know the history of Fruitcake and how it garnered its popularity.

History of Christmas Fruitcake

Christmas 2022: History Of The Popular Christmas Fruitcake & It¡¯s Recipe | Stock Image

The countdown for Christmas has begun and we just discovered that the fruitcake we are going to slice this Christmas shares a rich history. Historians believe that during the Romans in the Middle Ages, Romans prepared a simple composition of honey, barley, dried fruits and wine and served it to their soldiers to reenergize them so that they can fight the battles.

Going by this theory, a fruitcake served as an energy bar for the Romans in the Middle Ages. In fact, for the longest time, some kind of fruit bread existed in most cuisines and it was only later that the idea of fruitcakes emerged.

Christmas 2022: History Of The Popular Christmas Fruitcake & It¡¯s Recipe | Unsplash

Some historians also believe that Fruitcakes were left inside the tombs of the dead in ancient Egypt. These Fruitcakes served as sustenance for the afterlife.

What made fruit cakes super popular across Europe and America

It's believed that Fruitcake transformed from being a basic honey and barley combination to a dessert studded with dried fruits that were soaked in rum or brandy and dipped in crystallized sugar. This recipe of fruitcake became so famous because this candied version allowed people to preserve the fruits for longer periods of time and in turn, increase the shelf life of fruitcakes and this is the reason that made these cakes super popular across Europe and America.

A different version of Christmas cake

Fruitcakes are not just limited to America or UK but are popular around the globe with each country having its own version of it. American fruitcakes are different from Europe. European fruitcakes are more like medieval fruited bread than the versions made in Great Britain and the United States. The two most common styles of fruitcake in Europe are the 'Stollen' and 'Panettone'.

Christmas 2022: History Of The Popular Christmas Fruitcake & It¡¯s Recipe | Stock Image

In Italy, Fruitcakes are called ¡®Panforte¡¯ or ¡®Pannetonne¡¯, while Poland and Bulgaria call them ¡®Keks¡¯. in Portugal, they are called ¡®Bolo Rei¡¯, while in Vietnam Fruitcakes are called ¡®Banh Bo Mut¡¯. In Ireland, Fruitcakes are called ¡® Barmbrack¡¯, while in Romania they are called ¡®Cozonac¡¯.

Christmas fruit cake recipe

Bored of the same old plum cake you get from a bakery? Bake your very own fruit cake in a jiffy.

Ingredients

Lots and lots of fruits, Get some Brandy - 125ml, A luscious Apple, peeled and grated, Oodles of Honey, ( nope just 1 tablespoon), Some glorious Butter, 155g to be precise, 4 Eggs, Plain Flour and some cinnamon and almonds for flavour.

Christmas fruit cake recipe | NDTV

How to make it?

- Pre-heat the oven to 160 degrees or just use the microwave.

- Mix up the fruits, brandy, apple and honey in a bowl and add some sugar to it. Pour the beaten eggs to it. Stir it up quick and smooth.

- Pour the glorious melted butter onto the mixture. Pour the mixture into a deep 20 or 23cm (8 or 9 in) round cake tin lined with three sheets of parchment.

- Let it bake for about 2 1/2 to 3 hours and Voila! Your very own fruitcake is ready. Get the full recipe for Christmas cake here.

For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram.