🍒🍊 Fluffy Moist Fruit Cake — Soft, Tender and Packed with Colorful Fruit!
This Fluffy Moist Fruit Cake is lighter and softer than the dense old-fashioned fruitcakes many people remember.
It has a tender buttery crumb with sweet dried fruit scattered throughout every slice, plus just enough citrus and vanilla to make the flavor bright and balanced.
It is perfect for holidays, Christmas, tea time, brunch, gifting, or anytime you want a beautiful homemade cake filled with fruit.
⏱️ Prep Time: 25 minutes
🔥 Bake Time: 55–65 minutes
🕒 Total Time: About 1 hour 40 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 10–12
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup orange juice
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1½ cups mixed dried fruit
- ½ cup chopped candied cherries
- ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, optional
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour for coating fruit
Good Fruit Options
Use a combination of:
- Raisins
- Golden raisins
- Dried cranberries
- Dried cherries
- Chopped dates
- Candied orange peel
- Candied cherries
- Chopped dried apricots
Instructions
1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Grease and line a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan or 9-inch round pan.
2. Prepare the Fruit
Combine the dried fruit and candied cherries.
Toss with 2 tablespoons flour.
This helps prevent the fruit from sinking.
3. Mix the Dry Ingredients
Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together.
4. Cream Butter and Sugar
Beat butter and sugar for 3–4 minutes, until pale and fluffy.
5. Add Eggs
Beat in the eggs one at a time.
Add vanilla and orange zest.
6. Add Milk and Orange Juice
Combine the milk and orange juice.
Alternate adding the dry ingredients and liquid mixture to the batter.
Mix gently.
7. Fold in the Fruit
Fold the fruit and optional nuts into the batter with a spatula.
Do not overmix.
8. Fill the Pan
Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan.
Decorate the top with a few extra cherries or nuts if desired.
9. Bake
Bake for 55–65 minutes.
A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
Cover loosely with foil if the top gets too dark.
10. Cool
Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes.
Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
Tips for a Moist Fruit Cake
✅ Coat the fruit with flour.
✅ Do not overmix.
✅ Use room-temperature eggs.
✅ Do not overbake.
✅ Orange juice adds moisture and brightness.
Optional Orange Glaze
Whisk together:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons orange juice
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Drizzle over the cooled cake.
Variations
Tropical Fruit Cake
Use dried pineapple, mango, coconut, and cherries.
Nutty Fruit Cake
Add 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts.
Lemon Fruit Cake
Replace orange juice and zest with lemon.
Chocolate Fruit Cake
Fold in ¾ cup chocolate chips.
Storage
Wrap tightly and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Refrigerate for up to 1 week.
Freezing
Wrap the cooled cake tightly and freeze for up to 2 months.
Thaw overnight before serving.
📌 Save this fluffy fruit cake for holidays, gifting, or afternoon tea.
👇 Do you prefer fruit cake with nuts, cherries, citrus, or chocolate?
#FruitCake #MoistFruitCake #FluffyCake #HolidayBaking #ChristmasCake #HomemadeCake #DriedFruitCake #TeaTimeCake #FamilyRecipes #RecipeOfTheDay