Meet Grandfather Fruitcake and His Story as It Defrosts like Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas’

The fruitcake was not a Christmas staple; no wonder it gets a bad reputation today, being dry and not as rich as its sugary companions. But, it is an intrinsic part of Christmas and the nostalgic element has cemented its place in the winter festivities, like an old grandfather of the dessert world.

Christmas is incomplete without fruit cakes and as December comes knocking, bakeries and shops are also gearing up for the festive session, and if not already, Christmas cakes are already on the shelves. This festival is not only restricted to the Christian faith, but it goes beyond religion and pulls in everyone who is in the mood to celebrate with lights, baked goodies and communal harmony.

We are not saying this is the only variety; of course, it’s not. There are others like the dundee cake and the plum cake too. But, we have to say that this one is perhaps the most visually striking one given it has colorful fruit bits in it. As Christmas draws closer, let’s take a time machine to simpler times and meet the fruitcake in all its glory, shall we?

The Roman Connect

Fruitcake has its origins in ancient times. During the rule of the Roman Empire, soldiers would carry cakes made of pine nuts, barley, raisins, pomegranate seeds and honeyed wine on long military campaigns. Known as "satura", these cakes were very portable and could last a long time without spoiling. This early version of fruitcake helped sustain the Roman legions far from home.

Moving Over to England

In medieval England, fruitcakes took on new forms. The wealthy began enjoying plum-based puddings around Christmas as a means of filling their stomachs after religious fasts. Over time, other dried fruits like raisins and currants were added. By the 16th century, spices imported from Asia were mixed in to represent the three wise men. Wealthier families took to coating their Christmas cakes in marzipan for decorative effect.

During the Elizabethan era in the late 1500s, fruitcake recipes evolved further. Meat began to be replaced with even more dried fruit. This version became known as "plum pudding". Around the same time, Europeans discovered sugar could preserve fruit by coating it—a technique used to create the soaked fruits added to cakes. Nuts also joined the mixture of ingredients at this stage.

The Odd Fruitcake Trends and Its Popularity

Fruitcake rose dramatically in popularity during the 18th century. However, its richness proved to be its downfall—fruitcakes were actually outlawed in parts of continental Europe for being deemed "sinfully decadent". This ban did not last long, and fruitcakes soon regained their status as a coveted treat.

An odd tradition surrounding fruitcakes emerged in England. Unmarried wedding guests would place a slice under their pillow at night, hoping to dream of their future spouse. As fruitcake was traditionally served at British weddings, this superstition connected the cake with marriage.

Fruitcake held royal esteem as well. When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840, she waited a full year to eat her wedding fruitcake as a show of restraint. More recently, fruitcakes graced the weddings of Princess Diana, Prince Charles, and Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Migrating to the Americas

British colonists introduced fruitcake to America in the 17th century. Isolated communities without fresh fruit relied on the preserved dessert. Two regions of Corsicana, Texas and Claxton, Georgia, became renowned for their fruitcakes, which contained abundant local nuts.

In 1913, the Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana pioneered the concept of shipping fruitcakes nationwide in decorative tins, establishing a popular gifting tradition. Over a century later, this Texas bakery still exports fruitcakes globally.

Fruitcake achieved its most ambitious voyage in 1969, when a pineapple variety accompanied the Apollo 11 astronauts to the moon. This historic fruitcake is now displayed at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

While fruitcake was consumed year-round in ancient times, its association with Christmas remains an enigma. References in old carols suggest it was donated to poor singers, contributing to its holiday legacy. So regardless of origin, fruitcake maintains its role in winter celebrations to this day.

The Fruitcake Today

Advances continued into modern times. As sugar became more affordable in the 16th century, Europeans soaked cut fruits in syrups to last longer. These candied fruits were then incorporated into the traditional Christmas fruitcakes. Today, festive bakers often "feed" prepared fruitcakes with spirits like brandy or sherry to enrich the flavors over time for the holidays.

While opinions on fruitcake remain divided, it continues to be featured prominently during the Christmas season. It continues to enjoy popularity during Christmas and ushering in the festive cheer. New variations that are a spin-off of the classic recipe are also gaining popularity.

Many modern bakers experiment with different flavors like pumpkin or coffee to attract new fans from the younger generations. As the debate over fruitcake rages on, one thing is clear - after originating in ancient Rome and evolving over thousands of years, this polarizing Christmas dessert has cemented its place in holiday traditions and is unlikely to go anywhere anytime soon.