"Kathy in NZ" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 08:27:34 -0600, Damsel in dis Dress
> > wrote:
>
The main reason for adding booze to
> fruitcakes is to help preserve them, since fruitcakes are
> traditionally made up to a year before Xmas. Just follow your recipe
> but leave out the booze.
>
> Kathy in NZ

I'm wondering what brought about the tradition of making up the cake up so
far in advance; availability of fruits and nuts?

I once had a cake recipe with booze added at regular intervals that I kept
going in a tupperware for about 3 months before Christmas; it didn't have
many fruits and nuts in it (if at all). Too many years ago to remember, but
it could've been a Chef Tell recipe or Wolfgang Puck; it did fall apart on
me when scooped out of the tupperware. I didn't trust it to turn it out
onto a cake plate.
Dee Dee