I love to bake holiday sweets but this year, I unfortunately have little time to do it. I used to stay up late baking up to a dozen different kinds of cookies to gift friends and family. Given my current schedule and obligations, late-night baking sessions were not possible for 2010. I decided to revisit an old friend, the fruitcake, and scale it down.
You may not like fruitcakes but give them a second look. They’re great for the holidays because they keep well for a long time. Actually, they get better with age as the dried and preserved fruit soften and develop a slight boozy quality. Plus, fruitcakes allow you to use up bits of ingredients in the cupboard. I had dried fruit from the past 18 months and nuts in the freezer. I supplemented those things with a bag of mixed dried fruit (the one with blueberries, cherries, cranberries, etc.) at Trader Joe’s.
The other thing that’s great about fruitcakes is the use of liquor to infuse the cake with flavor throughout. I chopped up all the solid ingredients and marinated them in Slivovitz, East European plum brandy that my dad gave me years ago.
My original Vietnamese fruitcake recipe called for 1 cup of mei kwei lu chiu (Chinese sorghum and rose petal liquot) or orange-flavored liquor, but I was out. The Slivovitz I used was made by Hungarian producer Zwack, which is widely available in the U.S. It tasted quite nice, like a lighter version of the Chinese liquor but not as aromatic. I could have gotten zwacked on it but had to keep chopping up my nuts and fruit!
From one recipe I got 9 minis – that’s roughly 8 gifts with 1 leftover for you. After aging, wrap each cake in plastic wrap and then parchment paper to ensure that it stays moist. Tie a ribbon around each one and you’ve got a great present. For extra sturdy protection, put the wrapped and ribboned fruitcake into the original disposable baking tin (we washed ours after removing the cakes). That’s what I did before sliding one into the mailbox for Karen, our letter carrier.
Loaf cakes like fruitcakes are perfect for scaling down into minis. They are cute, satisfying, and make a nice statement. You’ve still got time to bake a batch for the weekend gift giving opportunities.
If you’re crammed for time, here are some more easy homemade holiday gifts:
- Tangerine Meringue Kisses
- Chile Garlic Sauce – no canning, just put it into a jar and tell the recipient to refrigerate it
- Thai Sweet Chile Sauce – same as above
- Sriracha Chile Sauce - ditto but will take a few days so gift it for January 1 or Lunar New Year (Tet)
Got last-minute homemade holiday gift ideas? Don't keep them to yourself. Share them below!
Shuku
Cranberry-orange port conserve (or Cranberry Cabernet/Shiraz/whatever wine I had on hand at the time) is what I used to make if I didn't have time to do anything else! Bag of cranberries, some sugar, one segmented orange, peel and all, and the wine. I remember lugging four jars of it to California for gifts one year not long after I graduated...
If I can't manage even that though - I'll write a short story or poem for each individual I plan on giving a present to (but that's not actually food...even if I write about it!)
Annette
Your fruitcakes look yummy!
This year, I made jars of Chili Garlic Sauce for friends and family on Thanksgiving day.
http://vietspices.blogspot.com/2010/11/tuong-ot-toi-vietnamese-chili-garlic.html
As for Christmas gifts, I made frosted cranberries, candied orange peels and candied grapefruits peels.
http://vietspices.blogspot.com/2010/12/mut-vo-buoi-boc-chocolate-candied.html
http://vietspices.blogspot.com/2010/12/mut-cam-candied-orangeu.html
Andrea Nguyen
Shuku: The recipients of your gifts are surely quite fortunate!
Annette: Thanks for sharing your homemade gifts.
Coach Factory Store
You are too rush today, calm down and take a breath
Supra Strapped NS
To be truly happy is a question of how we begin and not of how we end, of what we want and not of what we have
Nike Shox Cheap
Was looking for this – so I just tweeted your website on our account – THANKS!!!
Dee
This looks absolutely delicious! I love it. Thank for this! You are always sharing such scrumptious stuff!
D. Perry
Flip Ultra Video Camera Reviews
Disocunt Jordan Shoes
It is a good tongue that says no ill, and a better heart that thinks none.
Bottes UGG Pas Cher
very nice site for me. thanks!
Nike TN
How delicious they look! I want to eat them very much.
Max 90
HOLIDAYS, I LIKE, SO MANY DELICIOUS FOOD AND CAN GO OUT FOR PLAYING.
Max 90
Nike Air Max
On the picture, what is the delicious, and how to make?
Nike Air Max
Jordan 2011
It seems delicious, with author's heart and love.
http://www.newjordan2011shoes.com
http://www.airmax90sale.net
D
http://www.paschereairmax90.net
http://www.airshoxnz.com
Mulberry Alexa Outlet
Those are super cute. I like you on Facebook.
Canada Goose Danmark
we have highter income,but less morals.
UGG PAS CHERE
Very beautiful and convenient location. I liked everything. article also interesting. Thanks to author.
UGG PAS CHERE
http://www.pascheruggbottes.net
Thanks for your share,thanks a lot.Good luck!
It's sounds a good news.
Discount Red Bottom shoes
Brevity is the soul of wit.
value of annuity
Wow, what a blog. I like very much to your idea.Thanks for your sharing idea.
marlon
This looks absolutely delicious! I love it.
marlon
I remember lugging four jars of it to California for gifts one year not long after I graduated.
John Elway Jersey
While soccer is, indeed, a popular sport in the United States, particularly for the youth of today, the saturation of Beckham Galaxy jerseys are Broncos NFL Jersey not even in the same league as sales of NFL, MLB, NBA, or even NHL fan apparel.I have read Broncos Peyton Manning Jersey articles claiming that Japanese Peyton Manning Jersey players signing with MLB teams have increased the Japanese fan base for baseball.Yes, it is true that Beckham has a huge fan base all over the world; however, making the move to an American-based team does not automatically guarantee more local fans.If soccer will have any chance John Elway Jersey of ascending to the popularity podium alongside the NFL, et al.This, in no way, is in the same category as having an international soccer star come to an American-based team and creating more American fans.One final note: if the newly-established fan base for David Beckham includes Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, then I personally do not want to be a member.Fans are fans because they love the game, and the arrival or departure of one player does not make or break said fan base.Americans didn't care much for soccer without Beckham, and it is very unlikely that they will suddenly start tuning in every week simply because of him.
Wedding Gowns 2012
I have to say, I dont know if its the clashing colours or the bad grammar, but this blog is hideous! I mean, I dont want to sound like a know-it-all or anything,