Baking School In-Depth: Fruitcake - Bake from Scratch
Fruitcake is steeped in a history that’s as rich and enduring as its flavor.Its origins go back to ancient Rome, where cakes made with barley, pine nuts, and pomegranate arils were a practical way of preserving energy-rich ingredients.It wasn’t long before the medieval spice trade transformed these humble cakes into something far more decadent.
Spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, along with dried fruits and sugar, turned this practical food into an indulgent delight, a symbol of celebration and abundance.By the Victorian era, fruitcake had become a luxurious affair, often seen at weddings and feasts, soaked in spirits and covered in candied fruits.But fruitcake isn’t just about extravagance; it’s about longevity.
Its dense texture and high sugar content make it the perfect cake to preserve, growing richer and deeper with age.Queen Victoria famously let her fruitcake mature for a year before she ate it—an act of patience and restraint.In the US, particularly in the South, fruitcake became a cherished tradition, laced with bourbon and packed with pecans.
Baking a fruitcake is an act of devotion.In this world of instant gratification, fruitcake reminds us of the beauty in waiting, for the soaking of fruits, the slow baking, and flavors that deepen and meld over time.It’s a link between past and present, a
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Publisher: Bake from Scratc