"There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep passing it around.” – Johnny Carson
The simple holiday fruitcake has been to outer space, served as the world’s first energy bar, and is an international $100 million business. However, despite all of these achievements, this ancient Roman dessert is still the target ofcountlessjokes. As we approach the final days of National Fruitcake Month, here is a look at the history of one of the world's mosthated/lovedcakes of all time.
Fruitcake’s great, great, grandfather is the Roman Satura. The ancient Romans were looking for a way to sustain their troops in battle and developed a bread consisting of pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, raisins, barley mash, and honeyed wine. This cake was packed with calories and lasted long enough to fortify a soldier through an epic andexhausting campaign.
As dried fruits became more readily available, this Roman warrior energy bar eventually made its way off the battlefields and into homes as a dessert for special occasions. When Rome fell, local variations on the fruitcake emerged, including Italy’s panaforte and panettone, Germany’s powdered sugar-coated stollen, and Britain’s plum pudding.
Then, during the sugar boom of the 16th century the fruitcake, that we know today, began to emerge in Europe. Increasing amounts of fruit began to be preserved by soaking the fruit in inexpensive sugar from the colonies. The modern fruitcake was created as a way to deal with the abundance of sugar-laced fruit and, by the early 19th century, the typical recipe was full of citrus peel, pineapples, plums, dates, pears, and cherries.by the late 1800s, the fruitcake wasgifted in decorative tins, becominga holiday staplewithChristmas and fruitcake becomingintertwined in Victorian England with the help of colonial sugar. The British adaptation of the Roman Satura recipe, plum porridge, was influenced by the sugar trade and the traditional meat in the porridge was replaced with the readily available sugar preserved fruit. During Christmas in the 19th century, it was traditional for English nobles to feed poor carolers with a slice of plum puddingand the Christmas carol, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” made begging for this figgy pudding famous.
Eventually, the fruitcake made its voyage to Americawith colonists in the years before the Revolutionand nowadays it is enjoyed throughout the world. Today, seven millionpounds of this historic cake are producedeach year, with three companies -- The Swiss Colony, Claxton Bakery and Georgia Fruitcake Company -- competing for thetitle of “Fruitcake Capital of the World."
FAQs
The ancient Romans were looking for a way to sustain their troops in battle and developed a bread consisting of pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, raisins, barley mash, and honeyed wine. This cake was packed with calories and lasted long enough to fortify a soldier through an epic and exhausting campaign.
What is the history of fruitcakes? ›
History. The earliest recipe from ancient Rome lists pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins that were mixed into barley mash. In the Middle Ages, honey, spices, and preserved fruits were added. Fruitcakes soon proliferated all over Europe.
How did fruitcake get a bad reputation? ›
When commercial mass production of mail order fruitcakes resulted in dry bricks being delivered to people's homes as a last-minute Christmas gift. When Johnny Carson made his infamous joke on "The Tonight Show"about how there's only one fruitcake in the world and it's passed from family to family.
Why was fruitcake outlawed? ›
Fruitcakes were so rich, they were considered sinful and were outlawed in Europe in the early 18th century. Restrictions eased later in the century.
What does the fruitcake symbolize? ›
Fruitcakes became more intricate, with a wide array of spices, dried fruits, and nuts being incorporated into the recipes. These cakes were often shaped into intricate designs and enjoyed by the nobility as symbols of opulence and indulgence.
Who invented fruitcake and why? ›
Fruitcake is an ancient goody, with the oldest versions a sort of energy bar made by the Romans to sustain their soldiers in battle. The Roman fruitcake was a mash of barley, honey, wine and dried fruit, often pomegranate seeds.
What is the fruitcake scandal? ›
Jenkins, a low-level employee at the city's famed fruitcake company, the Collin Street Bakery, embezzled $17 million from 2004 to 2013, spending the money on cars, trips, watches, and jewelry—all so that he could keep up appearances with the upper crust of his town of 24,000.
Who is fruitcake celebrity? ›
Fred's Sirieix's fiancée is known affectionately as 'Fruitcake'. As Fred recalled on the show, he met her while walking down the street in Peckham and was captivated by her eyes and smile.
Why are people called fruitcakes? ›
Fruitcakes, which are cakes containing both fruit and nuts, have been in existence since the Middle Ages, but it is unclear when the term started being used disparagingly, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States, as a slur for a 'crazy person' (e.g., "he's a complete fruitcake") although Cassell's ...
How old was the fruitcake lady when she died? ›
Marie Rudisill died in Hudson, Florida, on November 3, 2006, at the age of 95, just before the publication date of her last book, Ask the Fruitcake Lady: Everything You Would Already Know If You Had Any Sense, on November 7.
Nowadays fruitcakes are a holiday delicacy still prized for their long-lasting freshness. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these seemingly indestructible pastries typically stay fresh for six months in the pantry and up to a year when refrigerated.
Why is fruitcake eaten at Christmas? ›
Why Do We Serve Fruit Cake for Christmas? In the 1700s and 1800s, the ingredients required to make fruit cake were prohibitively expensive. Therefore, fruit cake was considered an indulgence served only during special occasions like weddings and holidays.
Why do we eat fruit cake at Christmas? ›
The English began making plum cakes—here, the word “plum” refers to any type of dried fruit—which were also called Christmas cakes. In Victorian England, they became a decadent staple at weddings and holiday gatherings, and since the ingredients weren't cheap, simply eating it was an occasion in itself.
When someone is called a fruitcake? ›
: a foolish or eccentric person. The roommate once thought of as a fruitcake is the candidate likeliest to be our next Secretary of State. Erich Segal. also, sometimes offensive : someone who is not mentally sound.
Is fruitcake healthy for you? ›
It's a total waste of calories. You get all the sugar, fat, and calories of cake but none of the "that was so worth it!" amazing taste.
How long does fruitcake last? ›
How to Store Fruitcake Without Alcohol? Fruitcake without alcohol won't last as long, however, its shelf life can still be maximized through proper storage techniques. Our fruitcake can last up to one month on your countertop, four months in the fridge, and six months in the freezer.
Where did the first fruit cake come from? ›
Fruitcake has been around since ancient Roman times.
You may know that fruitcake has roots in England, but that's not where it originated. It has been around since ancient Roman times, where it was made of a mix of pine nuts, barley mash, pomegranate seeds, raisins, and honeyed wine.
What is the origin of the fruitcake at Christmas? ›
The modern fruitcake was created as a way to deal with the abundance of sugar-laced fruit and, by the early 19th century, the typical recipe was full of citrus peel, pineapples, plums, dates, pears, and cherries.by the late 1800s, the fruitcake was gifted in decorative tins, becoming a holiday staple with Christmas and ...
Why is fruitcake a Christmas tradition? ›
Why Do We Serve Fruit Cake for Christmas? In the 1700s and 1800s, the ingredients required to make fruit cake were prohibitively expensive. Therefore, fruit cake was considered an indulgence served only during special occasions like weddings and holidays.
