I think fruitcakes have gotten a bad wrap! With the right recipe, homemade fruitcakes make welcome gifts. You can get creative and bake them in baby bundt molds or mini loaf pans, even muffin cups. For a special touch add a design on the bottom of the pans with candied fruit before putting in the batter or spoon on a thin rum or brandy-laced powdered sugar glaze while still warm from the oven. If your family doesn't seem to like candied fruit, try making your fruitcakes with candied red and green cherries and pineapple - sometimes it's just the tartness of the citron or candied peels that some object to. Wrap up your treasure in some pretty plastic wrap - colors are nice - and tie with a pretty bow. If you make a recipe with spirits that 'ferments' and gets better with age, you can get a lot of your baking done in advance!

I'd love to see your recipes. I'll post our favorite to start. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Happy Holiday Baking,

Betsy