December 27 is National Fruitcake Day

Fruitcake is also known as a Christmas cake. December 27 is National Fruitcake Day. Fruitcake is a dried-fruit-laden dessert cake that is typically enjoyed around Christmas, but rarely eaten outside the holiday season. In fact, it is one of those items that is only in the grocery stores during the Christmas holiday.

In earlier centuries, fruitcake was a treasure. Dried fruits, nuts, and spices were precious commodities. A cake filled with them was a sign of abundance, celebration, and hospitality. Fruitcake traveled well, lasted long, and carried the flavors of distant places. It was a dessert with dignity — a culinary heirloom that connected families across generations.

Reasons Fruitcake Gets a Bad Reputation

When the fruitcake moved from home kitchens to mass production, everything changed. Real dried fruit was replaced with neon candied bits. Spices were muted. Alcohol aging was skipped. Moisture was sacrificed for shelf life. The result was a dense, overly sweet, oddly colored loaf that bore little resemblance to the fragrant, tender, fruit‑rich cakes of old. The fruitcake has become the punchline of late‑night comedy. Pop‑culture jokes cemented the stereotype, and now fruitcake doesn't stand a chance.

The poor, forgotten fruitcake has a notorious reputation for being disliked, especially in the United States. Many people report receiving the dessert as an unwanted gift at Christmastime. Frequently cited reasons for fruitcake's unpopularity include its heavy taste and chewy texture.

Fruitcake Deserves a Defense

The fruitcake was once a luxury filled with preserved fruit, nuts, and spices. A well‑made fruitcake is fragrant, tender, and celebratory — a kind of edible legacy. The fruitcake deserves a defense, and I am here to defend the fruitcake that has become one of the most misunderstood cakes. It is available in many grocery stores only for a short time in December.

For me, that is unfortunate because I love fruitcakes all year. I find that a well-made fruitcake can be delicious. I am convinced that the problem isn’t the fruitcake at all. The issue is that most people have never tasted a fruitcake worthy of its name. Also, they rely on others' opinions instead of trying a piece of fruitcake themselves.

It is not the fruitcake's fault that people don't love it. Fruitcake was once a luxury: preserved fruits, nuts, spices. It traveled well, lasted long, and symbolized abundance.

Every December, fruitcake becomes the punchline of predictable jokes — the brick‑heavy loaf no one wants, the gift that keeps getting re‑gifted, the dessert that seems to survive every generation untouched.

Fruitcake Facts

1. In England, fruitcakes were originally called plum cakes. They are also known as Christmas cakes due to their popularity at that time of year.
2. One-third of all fruitcakes sold each year in North America are never eaten. They end up in people's freezers and are eventually tossed out.
3. Fruitcake was actually banned in the early 18th century because it was considered “sinfully” rich.
4. Fruitcake became a popular food among hunters and warriors because it was easy to carry on long trips.
5. In 16th-century Europe, the fruitcake became known as a harvest symbol and a good luck charm.
6. An ancient piece of fruitcake was discovered in an excavated Egyptian tomb. It now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

An Invitation

On this National Fruitcake Day, I invite you to reconsider the humble loaf. Try a slice made with love, patience, and care. You will probably not be able to find a fruitcake in your local grocery store. However, they are usually available at Amazon. I usually purchase Claxton, and I have never bought one I didn't like.