Why do you soak fruitcake in alcohol?
Most fruitcakes are composed of cake batter, dried or candied fruits, and nuts. Basting fruitcake with rum or other alcohol also provides moisture and helps preserve the cake. You add rum to fruitcake both before baking through soaking the fruit and after baking by applying directly to the cake and to a cheesecloth.
What is the best alcohol to put in a cake?
For example, rum and bourbon give off nutty and vanilla tasting notes that work well with pie filling, cake mix and cookie dough (much like a vanilla extract). Red wine, port and brandy, on the other hand, add a sweetness that pairs nicely with glazes, chocolate cake and gingerbread.
How long does fruitcake last with alcohol?
As a USDA Guide describes, “The luxurious fruitcake, studded with dried fruits and steeped in rum or brandy, is a present-day descendant. The liquor retards mold, and there are cases of well-tinned and brandied cakes lasting 20 years!”
Does fruit cake go bad?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that fruitcake will last two to three months in the refrigerator without spoiling, and will maintain its quality if stored up to a year in the freezer. … For example, mold could grow on the surface of a fruitcake, or yeast could cause some of the sugars in the fruitcake to ferment.
Can a fruit cake be too moist?
You may find that the cake is damp but still edible. If you feel it is too underdone to eat then you can cut the properly cooked outside pieces off and just discard the very wet centre.
What can I use instead of brandy in a fruit cake?
If the recipe calls for brandy and you don’t have it (or like it), use wine or even a fruit juice of your choice. If the recipe calls for citron and you don’t care for citron, substitute another candied or dried fruit. If you do not like raisins, use more chopped dates and fewer raisins.
Why does my rich fruit cake crumble when cut?
The amount of sugar added in the recipe should be checked as excessive amounts may cause cake to crumble. … However if too much sugar is present, the cake is so tenderised that gluten is unable to maintain the volume of the cake and it begins to crumble when cut.
Will alcohol cook out of a cake?
Although some of the alcohol cooks off during the baking process, a reasonable percentage remains for consumption (after baking for 30 minutes, 35% of the alcohol is still present). … The alcohol itself will diminish the strength of the cake’s structural components.
Does baking with alcohol burn it off?
It is true that some of the alcohol evaporates, or burns off, during the cooking process. … The verdict: after cooking, the amount of alcohol remaining ranged from 4 percent to 95 percent.