Grandma Leach's Fruitcake

5.0
(8)

This fruitcake is really moist and packed with juicy raisins, dates, and walnuts. This is my grandmother's recipe that makes two cakes. She always said applesauce was the secret ingredient. I sold these fruit cakes at bake sales for years. We had so many customers who returned every year to get one!

Fruitcake decorated with glazed cherries and walnuts on a green background.
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Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr
Total Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Servings:
48
Yield:
2 fruitcakes
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 48 servings

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour

  • 2 cups white sugar

  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch

  • 2 teaspoons baking soda

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

  • 2 teaspoons ground cloves

  • 3 cups unsweetened applesauce

  • ¾ cup vegetable oil

  • 1 cup raisins

  • 1 cup chopped pitted dates

  • 1 pound candied mixed fruit

  • 2 cups chopped walnuts

  • ½ cup walnut halves (Optional)

  • 1 cup halved candied cherries (Optional)

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch tube pan and one 9x5 inch loaf pan.

    Ingredients for fruitcake, including flour, nuts, dried fruits, and spices.

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  2. Sift flour, sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cloves into a large bowl.

    Bowl of mixed dry ingredients, including flour and cocoa powder.

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  3. Stir in applesauce and oil, then mix in raisins, dates, mixed fruit, and 2 cups of walnuts.

    Fruitcake batter being mixed with a blue spatula in a glass bowl.

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  4. Pour into the prepared pans, about 3/4 full.

    Fruitcake batter placed in bundt pan and loaf pan, ready to bake.

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  5. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the crown of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour.

    Checking doneness of baked fruitcakes in bundt and loaf pans with a toothpick.

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  6. Cool cake and decorate with walnut halves and candied cherry halves.

    Baked fruitcakes decorated with cherries and walnuts, served on plates.

    Allrecipes/Qi Ai

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

167 Calories
7g Fat
26g Carbs
2g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 48
Calories 167
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 1g 3%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 98mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 2g 5%
Total Sugars 15g
Protein 2g 4%
Vitamin C 8mg 8%
Calcium 13mg 1%
Iron 1mg 5%
Potassium 112mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.

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