Been lurking a while, but had to add not all Americans dislike fruit cake.
I did a Christmas cake recipe of mine for my son's Christening last August.
One of his Godparents is my American friend and she loved it. This was her
first trip to England and she tried the cake just to be polite but then
couldn't praise it enough )

--
Jules

I want to be the best me possible
"Robin Cowdrey" > wrote in message
news:Tpc3c.133499$A12.78065@edtnps84...
> The reviling of fruitcake by Americans is something I've never been able
to
> understand. It's one of those Christmas treats that we eagerly
anticipated
> for weeks before the big day. Even after gorging ourselves on roast goose
> with chestnut stuffing and bread sauce, Brussels sprouts, roast parsnips
and
> potatoes, etc. followed by Christmas pudding with brandy butter, we looked
> forward to sherry trifle, mincepies and the crowning glory, the Christmas
> cake. It was mixed and baked many weeks ahead of the holiday and attended
> frequently with lovingly dispensed shots of brandy. It was a harbinger of
> what was to be. Every time it was unwrapped, it was a reminder that
> Christmas was closer. A week or two before the holiday it would receive
> it's crown of golden marzipan paste and a coating of royal icing. A few
> dragees and the odd decoration and girded with a seasonal wrap it was set
to
> be the centrepiece of the Christmas table. Smell pieces were served and
> savoured by all.
>
> As I said, I don't understand why Americans wouldn't like it. Maybe it's
an
> anti-Brit thing. It's full of sugar and carbohydrate and that should be
> attractive!
>
> Maybe there's not enough fat! Perhaps if it was battered and deep-fried
it
> would gain acceptance (memo to McDs in Scotland: add to Mars bar menu).
>
> Or could it be the 'Royal' icing (a reminder of the colonial days)? Maybe
> Mel Gibson mentioned it in 'Braveheart'.
>
> Perhaps the association with wedding cake, given the 50% divorce rate, has
> something to do with it but I think they have comparable divorce stats in
UK
> and I think they still like the cake.
>
> Who knows? Americans are such an odd bunch!
>
> Robin