Mamas Christmas Fruitcake Dee Dees Recipes

MAMA'S ICEBOX FRUITCAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Prepare all the dry ingredients ahead of time as directed.
• Chop the pecans, walnuts, brazil nuts, and raisins as needed.
• Crush or chop the graham crackers.
• Chop the maraschino cherries, saving the juice. Set aside for now.
• Place the chopped nuts in a large mixing pan.
• Add the chopped graham crackers.
• Add the coconut.
• Mix dry ingredients together to fully combine.
• Place the marshmallows in a medium size sauce pot.
• Add the milk.
• Place the pot over Medium Low heat on your stove top.
• Constantly stir this mixture until the marshmallows are fully melted.
• Pour the marshmallow mixture over the crushed nuts and graham crackers.
• Add the chopped cherries with juice.
• Mix well, until fully combined.
• Lightly butter a 9 x 13 x 2 casserole type dish or pan.
• Place the mixture in the dish, spread evenly and press firmly.
• Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Enjoy!

MAMA'S CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE - DEE DEE'S

Steps:

• 1. Sift all dry ingredients together. Coat fruit and nuts with just enough of flour mixture (about 1 cup) to ensure that the fruit does not stick together; set aside.
• 2. Cream butter and sugar; add eggs 1 at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• 3. Add remaining dry mixture to egg, sugar and butter mixture; add liquor and vanilla; mix well.
• 4. Pour the creamed mixture over the fruit and nuts. Hand stir until mixed well.
• 5. Pour into 2 10-inch waxed paper lined tube pans, garnish top of cake with cherries, pineapple slices and pecan halves; place in cold oven, set oven at 275 degrees; bake 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours or until a long skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out with just a few moist crumbs. MY MOHTERS RECIPE STATES BAKE IN SLOW OVEN FOR ABOUT 2 1/2 HOURS. IT TOOK MUCH LONGER IN MY OVEN.
• 6. Once cakes are done, cool and wrap in wine soaked cheesecloth, then in Reynolds Wrap and then wrap in towels.
• 7. NOTE: The secret to these wonderful cakes is in the aging process. Mama would age her cakes from 2 to 3 weeks. Once a week she would un-wrap the cakes and pour enough liquor over the cakes to keep them moist until Christmas.

CHRISTMAS FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• Soak cherries, mango, cranberries, currants, and citron in 1/4 cup rum for at least 24 hours. Cover tightly, and store at room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Butter a 6x3-inch round pan or loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg. Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; mix into butter and sugar in three batches, alternating with molasses and milk. Stir in soaked fruit and chopped nuts. Scrape batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with 2 tablespoons rum.
• Cut out one piece parchment paper and one piece cheesecloth, each large enough to wrap around the cake. Moisten cheesecloth with 1 tablespoon rum. Arrange cheesecloth on top of parchment paper, and unmold cake onto it. Sprinkle top and sides of cake with remaining rum. Wrap the cheesecloth closely to the surface of the cake, then wrap with paper. Place in an airtight tin, and age for at least 10 weeks. If storing longer, douse with additional rum for every 10 weeks of storage.