𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗻𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗮𝗸𝗲

Fruitcake was always present in our home when I was growing up.  From the end of November until well into January, fruitcake was in full supply and ready for the taking.  My mom used to make her fruitcakes in a bundt pan, which might be more traditional. And, she loved to use apricots in her cake, just like in this Christmas Apricot and Walnut Fruitcake.

I could not find my mom’s recipe, but this recipe is a take on Barry’s recipe. Barry is the man behind Rock Recipes. He’s a fellow Newfoundlander, and knows a thing or two about good fruitcake! His original recipe is as close as I could find to the cake my mom used to make.

𝙄𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨

• 2 1/2 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• 2 cups dried apricots, roughly chopped
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar
• 1 cup salted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 cups glace cherries, roughly chopped (I used one cup red and one cup green)
• 1 cup mixed peel
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨

1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

2. Prepare to loaf pans by lightly coating with non-stick cooking spray and lining with parchment paper. Set aside.

3. In a sauce pan, over medium heat, combine 1/4 cup white sugar, the chopped apricots, raisins, and the water. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

4. In the meantime, cream together the butter, cream cheese, vanilla extract, and the remaining 1 cup sugar.

5. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well after each addition.

6. Add the cooled apricot and raisin mixture, including the liquid. Mix well.

7. Add the flour and baking powder. Mix well.

8. Fold in the cherries, peel, and walnuts.

9. Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pans. Tap the pans on the counter top to ensure the cake batter has settled into the corners.

10. Bake for 55 minutes. Check to see if the loaves are done by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the loaves are done; if not, then bake for an additional 5 minutes and try the toothpick test again.

11. Once the cakes are done, remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before transferring out of the loaf pans to a wire cooling rack.

12. Allow cakes to completely cool before slicing.