Seasoning and Storing Fruitcake | Blue Flame Kitchen (2024)

How to Season and Store Fruitcakes

Did you know you have to season your homemade fruitcake before it is ready to eat? Seasoning helps to improve the flavour and texture. Follow our easy steps to make your fruitcake holiday ready.

“Seasoning,” also known as ripening or ageing, a fruitcake involves letting it mature in a cool, dark place for several weeks. While the process sounds strange, it’s a traditional technique meant to improve the flavour and texture of fruitcake.

Unseasoned fruitcake tends to be dry and crumbly, while seasoned fruitcake is easier to slice and has a more developed flavour and texture.

Some fruitcake recipes call for seasoning, while others do not. If you want to season a fruitcake that doesn’t call for it, be extra careful to watch for mould, as the fruitcake may not survive the room-temperature ageing period.

If your recipe says to season your fruitcake, here’s how to do it:
  1. Allow cakes to cool in pans on racks. When cooled, remove cakes from pans and remove parchment paper.
  2. Brush cakes generously with sweet sherry, brandy, rum, port, liqueur or fruit juice; do not use wine. Using fruit juice can increase the chances of your fruitcake going mouldy.
  3. Wrap each cake in several layers of cheesecloth and then in plastic wrap. Store the cakes in airtight containers in a cool dry place, but not in the refrigerator or freezer.
  4. Check carefully at least once a week, as rich, moist cakes mould very easily. If you see any mould, throw out the cake. Cutting off the mould and eating the rest of the cake is not a food-safe solution.
  5. If the cakes have not moistened and become uniformly heavy in two weeks, apply more liquor or fruit juice, wrap in clean cheesecloth and plastic wrap and put back into your airtight container. Repeat this until they are moist and heavy.
  6. If the cakes are too moist, remove them from the container and all wrapping. Allow them to stand at room temperature for 24 hours, then rewrap in plastic wrap and freeze. Do not continue seasoning.
  7. Dark cakes usually take 4 to 6 weeks to season; light cakes usually take 3 to 4 weeks to season. Do not freeze fruitcake before seasoning is complete.
  8. Once seasoned, store fruitcakes in the refrigerator or freezer.
Seasoning and Storing Fruitcake | Blue Flame Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Seasoning and Storing Fruitcake | Blue Flame Kitchen? ›

Brush the warm cake with rum, brandy, simple syrup, or flavored simple syrup (vanilla, rum-flavored, etc.). If you like just a hint of rum or brandy flavor, add 1 tablespoon of liquor to 3/4 cup vanilla syrup or simple syrup, and brush this mixture on the cakes.

How do you season a fruitcake? ›

Brush the warm cake with rum, brandy, simple syrup, or flavored simple syrup (vanilla, rum-flavored, etc.). If you like just a hint of rum or brandy flavor, add 1 tablespoon of liquor to 3/4 cup vanilla syrup or simple syrup, and brush this mixture on the cakes.

What is the best way to store a fruit cake? ›

Master the art of storage by tightly wrapping your fruitcake in parchment paper and foil. Store it in a cool, dark place, allowing the flavors to intensify. To expedite the process, consider placing the wrapped cake in the refrigerator for a day or two, mimicking the effects of extended aging.

How to keep a fruit cake moist after baking? ›

We recommend wrapping your fruitcake in plastic wrap before placing it in an airtight container. Then, place that container in the fridge. Doing this can ensure your fruitcake stays fresh for up to two months.

Should fruitcake be stored in the refrigerator? ›

For best quality, a fruit cake that is tightly wrapped with aluminum foil or saran warp can be stored for up to 1 month in a cool, dark pantry, 6 months in the refrigerator, and 12 months in a freezer. Check often for signs of spoilage, and if mold or off-odors develop, discard the cake.

What two ingredients help fruitcake last longer? ›

Fruitcake lasts longer than most other cakes because it is filled with nuts and candied fruit. It will last even longer if you sprinkle it with a spirit like brandy.

What is the best container to store fruit cake? ›

Choose the Right Container: To keep your fruit cakes fresh, start by selecting an airtight container. Opt for food-grade containers or tins that provide a secure seal, preventing moisture and air from spoiling the cake.

How do you store Grandma's fruitcake? ›

How should I serve and store my cake? Grandma's Fruitcake slices best when chilled. We recommend that you refrigerate your cake overnight or freeze it for a few hours before slicing with a Non Serrated Knife. Our fruitcakes have a 9 month shelf life.

How to wrap a fruit cake for storage? ›

Wrap each cake in several layers of cheesecloth and then in plastic wrap. Store the cakes in airtight containers in a cool dry place, but not in the refrigerator or freezer. Check carefully at least once a week, as rich, moist cakes mould very easily. If you see any mould, throw out the cake.

Why is my fruit cake always dry? ›

The ratio of wet to dry ingredients determines a cake's moisture level. If there's simply too much flour and not enough butter, a cake will taste dry. On the other hand, if there's too much milk and not enough flour, a cake will taste too wet. Finding the right balance between wet and dry ingredients is key.

How long will unopened fruitcake last? ›

Our cake has a shelf life of up to 3 months unopened, up to 6 months in the refrigerator and up to a year in the freezer.

Can you leave a fruit cake out overnight? ›

How long can cake sit out unrefrigerated? If your cake is frosted with buttercream, it will last covered at room temperature for up to four days. However, it is best to refrigerate cakes with other frostings such as cream cheese or ganache. A fully covered unfrosted cake will last for up to 2 days at room temperature.

How to tell if fruit cake has gone bad? ›

If the cake has been wrapped in baking parchment (parchment paper) or greaseproof paper and then stored then this should not be a problem. The best thing to do is look at the cake. If there are any signs of mould, or if the cake has a fermented, sour or odd smell, then it is safer to discard the cake.

What is the best alcohol for fruit cake? ›

Other good choices of booze include brandy, rum, or whiskey. Feel free to use one or a mix of these to best complement your fruitcake. Once you've chosen the liquor, bake the cake, poke holes throughout the whole thing, and pour a few tablespoons of the alcohol over it. Or, you can brush the cake with the alcohol.

How long do you let fruitcake age? ›

The most common duration to properly age a fruitcake is about three months. Any quicker will limit the development of complex flavors attributed to the maturing process. You can certainly age your cake for much longer than several months if you'd like, but we know how busy everyday life can be.

What do you put between fruit cake layers? ›

Our easy video demonstrates how to apply a layer of marzipan over a round sponge after brushing with apricot jam. This sweet almond paste provides a delicious middle layer in fruit cakes, and locks in moisture as well as creating a flat, smooth surface to decorate with icing.

Why add alcohol to fruit cake? ›

There are a lot of benefits to feeding a fruitcake. It will help keep your cake moist (especially if you are storing it for a while) as well as give it extra flavour – and, if you're a little heavy-handed, it will also develop that characteristic boozy kick.

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