The traditional American fruitcake is probably the most famous variety of fruitcake, dating back to the 1930s in popularity and remaining more or less ubiquitous ever since. But the idea of the fruitcake is a lot older than that. The truth is that fruitcakes are found around the world, not just fruitcake for the holidays but also fruitcake for many other occasions.

Seriously, what’s in a fruitcake?

Sugar and spice and everything nice. Also, depending on the recipe you’ll find oranges, cherries, lemons, limes, apples and pears in a modern, gourmet fruitcake. Fruitcake also contains lots of nuts, including hazelnuts, pecans, almonds, and walnuts. Some specialty fruitcakes, like the Texas Pecan Cake, favor one kind of fruit over another. They should call it a fruit-nut-cake!

Are fruitcakes healthy?

Fruitcakes contain sugar, but when you consider the powerful amounts of vitamins and minerals in the fruits and nuts, all which of are pretty much organic multivitamins all by themselves, the gains completely outweigh the damage to your diet.
Fruitcakes also offer a healthy alternative to “junky” foods like cookies and snack cakes that seem to pop up everywhere during the holiday seasons. Fruitcakes have an international appeal for their great taste, but their healthy virtues are giving them a new popularity here in America.

What kinds of fruitcake do you find in other nations?

In the island nations of Trinidad and Tobago the fruitcake is used to celebrate Easter Sunday. Their “black cake” is made with a variety of fruits, nuts, and spice found throughout the islands.

In Romania the fruitcake is called a cozonac, and it sometimes takes days to prepare right. In the Bahamas the fruitcake contains enough rum to float you over a wall.
That’s right. Don’t some fruitcakes contain alcohol?

Possibly but not necessarily. Many homemade fruitcakes include brandy or rum in their recipes, giving an extra bounce of “good cheer” to holiday diners. These kinds of fruitcakes for the holidays are typically not sold online, however.

If you’re considering ordering a fruitcake, remember to check when the fruitcake was prepared and how long it takes for the bakery to ship the fruitcake do your door. Some fruitcake come in a reusable tin that seals tight, so you can enjoy leftovers after the holiday season concludes. Remember that fruitcakes can be shipped anywhere in the United States and Canada, so they also make great gifts.