With the holidays in full swing, often there is a big focus
on holiday dinners and desserts. While many indulge in bread pudding, cakes,
cookies, and pies, an often overlooked holiday dessert is fruitcake. Fruitcake
has been a very captivating holiday dessert that has garnered many strong
opinions: There are die-hard fruitcake fans, but there are also many who
ridicule the holiday cake for its density, taste, and long shelf life. Although
fruitcake hasn't had the best reputation, it has existed around the world for
ages. According to redbookmag.com, fruitcake
stems from ancient Roman times when a mix of nuts, fruit, honeyed wine, and
barley mash was shaped into a cake eaten by Roman soldiers, since it went long
without spoiling and was easily portable.
Fruitcake isn't as bad as it's made out to be. There
have been many tasty variations of fruitcake over the years and different methods
of making it. For those who don't like candied fruit, there are fruitcakes that
are made with fresh fruit. And there are many fruitcakes out there that include
icing, nuts, chocolate, coffee, and citrus, and some are even soaked in wine or
alcohol. Contrary to popular belief, there are places that make delicious
fruitcakes. Make 2020 even crazier by putting aside preconceived notions of
fruitcake and giving it another try. Who knows? It may just become a new
holiday favorite. While fruitcake can be found in local supermarkets such as
Rouses, Walmart, and Whole Foods this holiday season, listed below are two
bakeries in New Orleans known for their delicious fruitcake. Get yours in time
for National Fruitcake Day on December 27.
Haydel's Bakery
Haydel's Bakery guarantees
that visitors have never tasted a fruitcake like theirs. Haydel's bakes everything
fresh every day and has been serving delicious desserts to New Orleans for over
three generations. They offer assorted and flavorful fruitcake flavors that aim
to please. Their fruitcakes are sold in a collectable box or tin, are
individually wrapped, and include tasty original flavors such as Creole
apricot, original, light, and sinful pineapple with macadamia nuts. 4037
Jefferson Hwy., (504) 837-0190, haydelsbakery.com
Baker Maid
Baker Maid's
fruitcake has been a local favorite and, at one point, was so popular that it
was Baker Maid's sole item! Their traditional dark fruitcake is a family recipe
that has been a New Orleans holiday staple for over 50 years. It includes
flavor-aged candied fruit, almonds, walnuts, aromatic spices, brandy, and rum,
for a nice, delectable treat. Their traditional dark fruitcake can be found in
local Southeastern Louisiana grocery stores and can be ordered online and
shipped to homes. 2419 Julia St., (504) 827-5500, bakermaid.com
