Old-Fashioned German Fruit Cake
A rich, spiced holiday cake made with molasses, buttermilk, dried fruits, and nuts. Perfect for Christmas gatherings and gifting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert, Holiday Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: German, European
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
¼ cup molasses
½ cup buttermilk
1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds)
1 cup mixed dried fruits (raisins, currants, or chopped dried cherries)
½ cup candied citrus peel, chopped
Optional: ¼ cup rum or brandy for soaking
Instructions
Prepare the fruits (optional): Soak dried fruits and candied citrus peel in rum or brandy for several hours or overnight. Drain and set aside.
Preheat oven: Heat to 325°F (165°C). Grease and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan or round cake pan with parchment paper.
Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
Cream butter & sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well. Stir in molasses.
Combine wet & dry: Gradually add dry mixture, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with the dry mixture.
Fold in extras: Gently fold in nuts, dried fruits, and candied citrus peel.
Bake: Pour into prepared pan. Bake 60–75 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cover loosely with foil if browning too quickly.
Cool & store: Cool in pan 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. Wrap cooled cake in plastic wrap and store airtight. For a traditional flavor, brush with rum or brandy every few days and let age up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Use your favorite mix of dried fruits for customized flavor.
Optional glaze: mix powdered sugar with orange juice and drizzle over cooled cake.
Aging improves flavor—brush with rum or brandy for up to 2 weeks.
Great for holiday gifting—wrap in festive packaging.
Find it online: https://allrecipesmade.com/old-fashioned-german-fruit-cake/
