Patience might be the most important ingredient when making your fruitcake. The fruit and nuts that go into the cake must soak overnight. The baking process itself is slow and should be monitored to make sure the fruitcake doesn’t dry out. (Place a pan of hot water in the oven during baking to add moisture.) Finally, the finished product needs to mature for several weeks to get the best flavor.

Making fruitcake requires quite a commitment, so you’ll want to put your own spin on it. Find a good recipe, then get creative when it comes to add-ins and what liquid (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) you’ll use for soaking your fruitcake. Experiment to find your signature recipe, and we guarantee your fruitcake won’t be re-gifted.