Turing Holiday treats into desserts
The holidays have come and gone, and if your fridge is anything like mine, there’s a leftover fruitcake staring back at you, just waiting to be dealt with. While fruitcake often gets a bad rap for being too sweet or dense, it doesn’t have to end up in the trash. With a little creativity, you can transform it into something truly delightful. Here are my favorite ways to repurpose fruitcake, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
The Magic of the Infinite Fruitcake Glitch
Fruitcake is packed with candied fruits, dried fruit, and nuts, making it an excellent addition to other desserts. If, like me, you find fruitcake a bit too sweet on its own, here’s a trick: slice it up, freeze it, and use it in small portions whenever you need a flavor and texture boost. This way, your fruitcake will never go to waste, and you’ll always have a quick dessert enhancer on hand.
How to Freeze Fruitcake
Freezing fruitcake is simple and keeps it fresh for months:
Cut the fruitcake into individual portion sizes.
Store in the freezer until needed.
Ideas for Repurposing Fruitcake
1. Crumble It Into Desserts
Fruitcake works beautifully as a mix-in for baked goods. For example, I recently crumbled some into my pumpkin bread, adding extra texture and bursts of flavor. The candied fruits and nuts from the fruitcake make every bite unique, while the sweetness allows you to reduce the sugar in the original recipe. Here’s my go-to pumpkin bread recipe:
Ingredients:
Wet Ingredients:
2.5 cups pumpkin purée
1 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup oil
4 eggs (or 4 flax eggs for a vegan option)
1 cup plain yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients:
3 cups flour
1 cup oat flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
left over fruit cake
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mix the wet ingredients in one bowl and the dry ingredients in another.
Gradually combine the dry ingredients with the wet, stirring until just mixed.
Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and sprinkle crumbled fruitcake on top or fold it into the batter.
Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
2. Air Fry It for a Quick Snack
Revitalize fruitcake by popping it into the air fryer! Set your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and heat the slices for about 5 minutes. This gives the exterior a delicious crispiness while keeping the inside soft and moist. It’s perfect for serving guests with a cup of tea or coffee.
3. Create a Fruitcake Trifle
Layer crumbled fruitcake with whipped cream, custard, and fresh fruit to create a stunning trifle. The fruitcake’s dense texture and sweet flavors pair beautifully with lighter, creamier elements, making this an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert.
4. Blend It Into Ice Cream
Transform fruitcake into a mix-in for homemade or store-bought vanilla ice cream. Chop the fruitcake into small pieces and stir it into softened ice cream before refreezing. You’ll get a rich, holiday-inspired treat in every scoop.
5. Make Fruitcake French Toast
Why not turn your fruitcake into a decadent breakfast? Dip slices of fruitcake into a mixture of eggs, milk (or plant-based milk), and a dash of cinnamon. Fry them in a pan until golden, and serve with fresh fruit or a drizzle of maple syrup.
Why Repurposing Matters
Finding creative ways to use leftover food not only saves money but also reduces waste—a win for both your wallet and the planet. Fruitcake may not be everyone’s favorite holiday treat, but with these simple ideas, you can give it a new life and avoid throwing away perfectly good food.
Your Turn!
What’s your favorite way to repurpose fruitcake? Do you have any go-to hacks for reducing food waste? Share your tips in the comments—I’d love to hear them!
