A Brief History of the Holiday Fruitcake

The ubiquitous holiday fruitcake- love it or hate it, one thing is for sure: this traditional holiday staple has become the stuff of legend and lore.  

In this article, we’ll explore the surprising history of the Fruitcake and share our favorite holiday fruitcake recipe with you- give it a try and you just might change the way you feel about fruitcake!

A Brief History of the Fruitcake

The first documented recipe for fruitcake dates back to Roman times.  The high calorie content and long shelf-life made it the perfect choice for sustaining warriors on long journeys.

The fruitcake came to be regarded as a delicacy when it first made its appearance in Northern Europe, where the scarcity of fruits and nuts reserved the treat for special occasions .     

Many people agree that correctly aging a fruitcake will greatly enhance it’s flavor.  Traditionally, fruitcakes are prepared up to a month in advance and preserved by the periodic addition of rum or other “potent potables”.

Managed this way, a fruitcake can remain edible for many years.  The oldest known fruitcake was baked in 1878 and is kept and maintained as an heirloom by a family in Michigan.

The first mailorder fruitcake hit the market in 1913, and the rest is history.  Each year, nearly 2 million fruitcakes are shipped across the nation by well meaning friends and family hoping to preserve this venerable holiday tradition.

Unfortunately, most fruitcakes that hit our tables during the holidays bear little resemblance to the delicacy our ancestors enjoyed.  

Saturated in high-fructose corn syrup and extruded onto conveyor belt ovens, Perhaps the once-noble fruitcake owes its recently maligned reputation more to mass-market factory production techniques than to its own humble nature.

If you’ve never tasted a real homemade fruitcake, you may be missing out!  Try our favorite holiday fruitcake recipe, and you just might find a new holiday tradition of your own!

Our Favorite Simple Homemade Fruitcake Recipe

What you’ll need:

• 3 cups whole candied cherries
• 3 cups candied pineapple, diced
• 1 pound shelled walnuts
• 10 ounces golden raisins
• 1 cup shortening
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 5 eggs
• 4 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

How it’s made:

• Combine the cherries, pineapple, walnuts and raisins in a large bowl and set aside.
• Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy in another large bowl. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
• Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Pour over fruit mixture and stir to coat.
• Transfer to a greased and floured 10 inch tube pan.
• Bake at 300° for 2 hours or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Wrap tightly and store in a cool place.
• Slice with a serrated knife; bring to room temperature before serving. 

Yields 16 servings.  For the grownups, kick it up a notch or two by drizzling with Rum or Brandy.

Do love or do you hate holiday fruitcakes?  Have a favorite holiday recipe, or an improvement on ours?  Comment below, and tell us about it!  

Planning a holiday party?  Take a look at the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa! Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Shawangunk Mountains and surrounded by gorgeous Catskill views, our professional event planners and world-class catering team can help you create special holiday memories in our 41,000 sq. ft. conference center and banquet hall!  Visit us at hudsonvalleyresort.com, and give us a call at 845-626-8888 to begin planning your next party or group event today!

Hudson Valley Holiday Parties: Beating Holiday Stress Top Ten

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and “The Holidays” aren't far behind.  If you’re like most people in the Hudson Valley, holiday stress can significantly impact your enjoyment of the season.  With the family on their way, holiday parties to plan, gifts to buy, and endless cooking and cleaning, stress can quickly add up for a less than happy holiday.

The Hudson Valley has so much to offer throughout the holiday season that we shouldn't let stress get in the way.  Take a look at our Top Ten Ways to Beat Holiday Stress, and learn some effective techniques to keep your holiday stress in check.

Top Ten Ways to Beat Holiday Stress

10. Breathe Easy!

When holiday stresses mount, our bodies can react with a fight or flight response which includes excess muscle tension and increased breathing rate.  Practice this deep breathing technique and short-circuit your holiday stress.

•  Recognize that a situation is triggering your stress symptoms. 

• Break into a big, sparkly smile.  If you are in a public place then this can be an inward smile. This triggers a release of endorphins, your body's natural feel-good chemicals. 

• Make a positive affirmation.  For example "I can do this" or “Be calm.” This counters the typical negative thoughts that may accompany stress. 

• Take an easy, deep breath. Imagine this diaphragmatic breath coming up through the soles of your feet and filling your abdomen. 

• As you exhale, let your jaw go loose, unclench your teeth, and allow your shoulders to relax. Imagine a wave of warmth flowing through your body.

9. Get Your Groove On

Listening to music while decorating for the holiday or preparing for company can be a great stress reliever by providing a mental distraction, reducing muscle tension and decreasing stress hormones. Crank up the volume and let your mind be absorbed by the music, not by your to-do list.  

8. Start a Holiday Journal

Writing out our thoughts and feelings can be a good release for otherwise pent-up emotions. Don't think about what to write — just let it happen. Write whatever comes to mind. No one else needs to read it, so don't strive for perfection in grammar or spelling.  Once you're done, you can toss out what you wrote, or save it to reflect on when stresses mount next holiday season!

7. Go to Bed!

Stress often makes getting quality sleep difficult. Your sleep can suffer when the stress of holiday party planning leaves you with too much to do and too much to think about.  But missing sleep prevents your brain and body from recharging, and can adversely affect your mood, energy level, concentration and overall functioning. If you experience trouble sleeping, make sure that you have a quiet, relaxing bedtime routine, listen to soothing music, put clocks away, and stick to a consistent schedule.

6.  Visit the Spa

There’s no better way to melt away holiday stress than treating yourself to a soothing soak in a spa Jacuzzi followed by a relaxing massage.  The Hudson Valley Resort’s spa professionals can help you select just the right holiday massage therapy or body treatment to ease your tension, revitalize your spirit, rejuvenate your mind, and regain a true sense of well-being and relaxation.  

5. Delegate, and learn when to say no!

You can’t do everything yourself, at least not without paying the price. Learn when to say no, and effectively delegate tasks.  Taking on too much at once may prevent conflict, but it can also lead to stress, anger and resentment when your needs and the needs of your family get lost in the holiday hustle. 

4. Try Yoga

Yoga is becoming an increasingly popular stress reliever.  Yoga brings together physical and mental disciplines to achieve peacefulness of body and mind, helping you relax and manage stress and anxiety. Try yoga on your own or join a class:  Hatha yoga, in particular, is a good stress reliever because of its slower pace and easier movements. 

3. Laugh it off

A good sense of humor can’t cure what ails you, but it can definitely make you feel better- even if you have to force it through your holiday grumpiness. Laughing lightens your mental load and actually causes positive physical changes in your body. So read some jokes, tell some jokes, watch a holiday comedy or hang out with your funny friends.

2. Get Moving!

Virtually any form of exercise and physical activity can act as a stress reliever. You do not have to be an athlete or even in great shape. Physical activity pumps up your feel-good endorphins and refocuses your mind on your body's movements; improving your mood and helping your holiday stress fade away.  

1. Let someone else do all the work!

Give us a call, and we’ll take care of it all!  Planning your holiday party at the Hudson Valley Resort is the easy and affordable way to beat holiday stress!  With over 41,000 sq. ft. of versatile meeting space, banquet halls, performance venues and ballrooms, there's no better place to share the holiday spirit with your friends, family, or coworkers! 

Our professional event planners are with you every step of the way to help create the perfect holiday party this season, and our world-class catering team can custom tailor your menu to suit your group's tastes and holiday wishes.

Gracefully set on more than 400 wooded acres in the heart of the Shawangunk mountains, we're perfectly situated just 90 miles from NYC, just over the river and through the woods!

From intimate to grand scale, we'll work with you to create lasting holiday memories which suit your tastes, and your budget.  

Give us a call and find out just how easy and affordable your holiday party can be at the Hudson Valley Resort & Spa!