The Ancient Origins Of The Holiday Fruitcake

Who hasn't tasted a fruitcake? You have undoubtedly seen fruitcakes included in every holiday display case and offered in most holiday gift-giving catalogs. The requisite fruitcake is tucked in the corner of every holiday dessert buffet and makes an appearance at every holiday office party. It is impossible to pass the holidays without giving or receiving this Christmas staple. But where did the fruitcake originate and how did it become so popular?

The history of the fruitcake dates back to medieval times when sweet breads were first developed. Old World cooks would hoard their most expensive cooking ingredients so they could be combined into a particularly special treat for the holidays. The usual ingredients consist of wheat flour, white sugar, butter, fresh eggs, and a variety of dried and candied fruits. In addition to the requisite nuts and candied fruits, variations might includes indulgent rich fillings like marzipan (which comes from almond paste).

Stollen, the famous German fruitcake, is believed to have originated in Dresden. Stollen is an oblong-shaped loaf that has a center ridge and is tapered at both ends. It usually contains brandy or rum, candied fruit peels, almonds, raisins and currants. After it is baked, the Stollen is painted with butter and sprinkled with sugar and more candied fruits are added to the top.

A variation of the fruitcake is known as three kings cake (or King Cake in New Orleans) and is associated with Mardi Gras and Twelfth Night. The Twelfth Night cake was developed from very old Araab recipes, although it containes many of the same ingredients that can be found in a traditional Christmas fruitcake. The basic recipe consists of a yeast-based brioche that is mixed with various nuts and dried or candied fruits. It often contains a bean or token hidden inside the cake.

Regardless of what it is called, the fruitcake is known as an international symbol of holiday abundance and tradition. Not all recipients of this holiday tradition consider it a treat. A story published in the New York Times, 1983, tells of a man who received the family fruitcake that had been baked in 1794 as a Christmas gift for George Washington, but the President sent it back with a note of refusal. Some families have a "traveling fruitcake" that is passed from one family member to another each season.

In Anglo countries, the traditional holiday fruit cake may be served on Christmas Eve by a family member dressed in a traditional Santa costume, making the evening both traditional and memorable.

With its centuries of international history, it is unlikely that the fruitcake will disappear from holiday traditions anytime soon.