Grandma Ruth's Apple Fruitcake

Each year, my husband’s family anxiously awaits the arrival of grandma Ruth’s apple fruit cake, which is another favorite from the family cookbook.

I love this fruitcake for three reasons – most importantly, it reminds me of my favorite grandmother-in-law, secondly, it has a lovely sweet flavor without the bitter bite of citrus rind that give most fruitcakes their bad name, and finally, it can be made vegan simply by using vegan margarine! This makes a big recipe for handing out to friends and family, so don’t be afraid to half or quarter it.

Grandma Ruth’s Apple Fruit Cake

Ingredients

  • 3 cups thick applesauce
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 cup margarine
  • 1lb dates (chopped)
  • 1/2lb light raisins
  • 1 1/2lb candied cherries (red and green)
  • 4 1/2 cups flour (sifted)
  • 4 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon (ground)
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg (ground)
  • 1/2 teaspoons cloves (ground)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1lb pecans (large pieces)

Directions

Combine applesauce, sugar, and margarine in a sauce pan and cook for 5 minutes. Let stand until the next day.
Combine fruit in large mixing bowl. Sift together dry ingredients. Sift onto fruit in small quantities, mixing until each piece of fruit is coated. Stir in cooled applesauce mixture, mixing well. Stir in nuts. Pour into loaf pans prepared with thoroughly greased double thickness wax paper. Bake 2 hours at 250. When cakes have browned, cover with brown paper and continue baking until a toothpick comes out clean.

Yields 5 loaves.

Recipe and photographs from Mayhem in the Kitchen!
https://mayheminthekitchen.com/fruit-cake/

This post is day 5 in the series Mayhem’s 12 Days of Christmas Cookies!

Linking To:

Uncommon Designs Christmas Wonderful Link Party
Holiday Recipe Link Party!

2 thoughts on “Family Christmas Cookie 5: Grandma Ruth’s Apple Fruit Cake”
  1. Good Day !

    I would like to know, is it possible to use cake and pastry flour instead of all purpose flour for this apple fruit cake?

    Thank you in advance.

    Abby

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