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Brazil Nut Fruitcake

Photo Credit
Nataly Landar/Shutterstock
The Editors
Yield
Makes 1 loaf.
Category
Bread
Cakes and Frostings
Course
Breads
Desserts
Occasions
Christmas
Thanksgiving
Preparation Method
Bake
Credit
Deborah Papier
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This is a quick and easy Brazil Nut Fruitcake—made with dried fruits and nuts—makes for a beautiful, festive presentation. We’ve made it year after year for friends and family who never liked fruitcake before this recipe, but say it’s absolutely delicious!

The recipe was perfected by Mother Mary Clare in the monastery kitchen of the St. Scholastica Priory in Petersham, Massachusetts. It’s made with dried apricots, dates, cranberries, and nuts, with a couple tablespoons of sherry or brandy.

Substitutions and Additions

This is a classic Christmas Fruitcake, however, all fruitcakes are flexible. 

  • Nuts: If you wish, substitute Brazil nuts with other nuts (such as walnuts, pecans, almonds, or hazelnuts).
  • Substitute any of the dried fruits. For example, substitute cranberries with raisins.
  • Cherries: If desired, you can mix in a cup of candied red cherries or maraschino cherries (halved), but we’ve left the recipe at dried fruit for simplicity. 
  • Spices: If you’d like to add spices, we suggest adding 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon allspice, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg when you mix the dry ingredients.
Ingredients
1 pound dried apricots, diced
1 pound pitted dates, finely chopped
1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
1 pound shelled Brazil nuts, finely chopped
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons sherry or brandy, divided
Optional: Confection's sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 275°F.  Line an 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper (to make it easy for this dense cake to release after baking).
  2. In a bowl, combine the fruit and nuts.
  3. In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients and whisk to blend.
  4. Add fruit and nuts and mix thoroughly.
  5. In another bowl, beat eggs until foamy. Add vanilla and 1 tablespoon of sherry and beat until blended. Stir into flour, fruit, and nut mixture until smooth.
  6. Pack firmly into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour, or until gently browned and firm to the touch.
  7. When cool, brush on remaining sherry.

Optional: Dust with confectioners’ sugar.

About The Author

The Old Farmer's Almanac Editors

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Comments

DelRey Burbach (not verified)

2 years 11 months ago

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