Ways to Enjoy Leftover Fruit Cake

Fruitcake on a wooden plate.

Often, fruit cake is thought of as a winter only treat! While it may be known for that due to popular culture, it is a treat that can be enjoyed all year long. It also can be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways! Below are three recipes that can be made with your leftover fruit cake!

Fruit Cake Bread Pudding

Cube up your fruit cake and place it in a casserole dish. In a separate bowl, whisk together: two eggs, a good splash of milk, a punch of sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. Pour that mixture over your fruit cake and bake in a 350 degrees oven for 30 minutes (or until golden brown)!

This is best served warm, and for some added decadence, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some whipped cream!

Fruit Cake French Toast

Need something fun for your next brunch? Look no further! Slice your fruit cake and allow it to dry out a bit for a few hours. Then, combine beaten eggs and milk with some cinnamon in a shallow dish.  Melt some butter in a pan over medium heat, and dip each slice (both sides!) of your fruit cake in the mixture, and place into your pan. Cook until golden brown and serve with your favorite French toast toppings!

Fruit Cake Pops

Cake pops are a perfect sweet treat, without the mess of a slice of cake! Crumble your fruit cake into a bowl, and mix an equal part of vanilla frosting in. For some extra flavor, you can add some cinnamon, or nutmeg! When well combined, scoop 1-inch balls with a spoon or ice cream scoop and roll until they are smooth. Put a cake pop stick (you can also use lollipop sticks, or skewers, but just be careful and or remove the skewers after). Melt chocolate wafers, we recommend vanilla, and dip your cake balls in. Place your cake pops to the side, and once the chocolate has set, enjoy!

Tip: we recommend poking holes in an old egg carton to hold your cake pops upright while the chocolate sets.

Whichever option you go with, it’s a great way to utilize any leftover fruit cake! Whichever recipe you try, a high-quality fruit cake is key. At the Italian Bakery of Virginia, we ship all of our goods to you! To order and view our products, visit us online or call us at 218-741-7218!

Fruit Cake: Where Did it Come from and Why is it a Holiday Tradition?

There’s no doubt about it—fruit cake is a staple of the holiday season. While it has spent centuries being the butt of countless jokes and often gets a bad rap, we here at Italian Bakery of Virginia still love it – and so do millions of people around the world. No matter which side of the spectrum you fall on, chances are you’re likely to find fruit cake adorning the dessert table of at least one holiday party this year.

So, what’s the history behind this love-it-or-hate it dessert and how did it become a holiday staple? Let’s take a closer look.

The origins of fruit cake

Christmas Fruit Cake

Let’s start from the beginning. Fruit cake dates all the way back to ancient Rome, when mashed barley, pomegranate seeds, raisins, and pine nuts were combined to make a dessert called satura. Valued for its long shelf life, Roman soldiers often brought the treat with them to battle. Later in the Middle Ages, spices, honey, and dried fruit were added, aiding in its growing popularity amongst crusaders. Over time, ingredients from European colonies were added, including sugar, candied fruit from the Middle East, various spices, and liquor, giving us a version of the treat that is most similar to the fruit cake we see today.

A brief ban

Because of the introduction of candied fruit, and of course, the abundant use of sugar for preservation, fruit cake became such a “sinfully rich” treat that it was briefly banned in Europe in the early 1700s. Fortunately, the ban was later lifted and fruit cake became a popular treat during celebrations throughout Europe and a must-have addition to a proper Victorian tea spread.

Synonymous with the holiday season

It is believed that one of the main reasons why fruit cake became associated with the holidays was that during the 18th and 19th century the cost of the ingredients was too expensive for most households to afford. Considered an indulgence, fruit cake was thus reserved for special occasions and holidays. As time went on, others began to credit Truman Capote’s 1956 short story, “A Christmas Memory,” which became most interesting when the older woman in the narrative looked out her window and exclaimed that it was “fruit cake weather.”

Ordering Fruit Cake from Italian Bakery of Virginia

Regardless of whether fruit cake is a must-have addition to your own annual holiday spread or you’re simply curious about this seasonal commodity, Italian Bakery of Virginia ships fruit cake all over the world. Our delicious Italian fruit cake blends candied fruits, crunchy nuts, and a hint of liquor to create a homemade holiday treat the whole family will enjoy. Order online today to have one delivered straight to your home!