Irish Whiskey Fruitcake
Rich, moist, and infused with the warm embrace of Irish whiskey, this Irish Whiskey Fruitcake is the perfect holiday treat or celebratory dessert. Bursting with a medley of dried fruits like raisins, currants, and cherries, each piece is delicately spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves for a flavor that’s both festive and comforting. The addition of orange zest and juice gives this classic fruitcake a citrusy brightness, while chopped nuts add texture and crunch. What sets this cake apart is its luxurious soak in Irish whiskey—both before and after baking—ensuring a moist crumb and deep, aromatic flavor. With a gentle maturation process that intensifies its richness, this fruitcake becomes better with age, making it an ideal make-ahead dessert for gifting or entertaining. Keywords: Irish whiskey fruitcake recipe, holiday fruitcake, whiskey-soaked fruitcake, traditional Christmas dessert.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 500 grams Dried mixed fruits (raisins, currants, apricots, cherries, etc.)
- 180 ml Irish whiskey
- 200 grams Unsalted butter, softened
- 200 grams Brown sugar
- 4 units Large eggs
- 250 grams All-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground nutmeg
- 0.5 teaspoon Ground cloves
- 1 unit Zest of an orange
- 60 ml Orange juice
- 100 grams Chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, or almonds)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 50 ml Irish whiskey (for soaking post-baking)
Instructions
Place the dried fruits in a medium mixing bowl and pour the Irish whiskey over them. Stir to combine, cover, and let soak overnight or for at least 8 hours.
Preheat your oven to 150°C (300°F) and line a 9-inch (23 cm) cake pan with parchment paper. Grease the paper and pan lightly with butter or baking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the unsalted butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, roughly 2-3 minutes.
Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until fully incorporated.
In a separate bowl, sift together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Gradually add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
Stir in the soaked fruit (along with any remaining whiskey), orange zest, orange juice, chopped nuts, and vanilla extract. Mix until evenly distributed.
Spoon the batter into the prepared cake pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
Bake in the preheated oven for 2.5 hours (150 minutes), or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once the cake has cooled, brush the top with the additional Irish whiskey (50 ml) to enhance flavor and keep the cake moist.
Wrap the cake tightly in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil, and allow it to mature for at least 1 week before slicing. For the best flavor, brush the cake with more whiskey every few days during this maturation period.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
516 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 21.3 g | 27% | |
| Saturated Fat | 9.7 g | 48% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 99 mg | 33% | |
| Sodium | 79 mg | 3% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 69.0 g | 25% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 5.0 g | 18% | |
| Total Sugars | 44.9 g | ||
| Protein | 6.9 g | 14% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.5 mcg | 3% | |
| Calcium | 71 mg | 5% | |
| Iron | 2.8 mg | 15% | |
| Potassium | 581 mg | 12% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
