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Baking Fruit Cake with Mom (WHAT COULD GO WRONG)

Charlie Berens | February 7, 2026



’Tis the season 🎄

RECIPE:

Traditional Aged Fruitcake with dried fruits, spice and lots of brandy. This cake should be made at least 4 weeks before serving and can be made 3-4 months ahead of time.

Ingredients
• 1 ½ oz almonds (½ cup coarsely ground)
• 3 oz walnuts (1 cup chopped)
• 12 oz dark raisins (2 ¼ cups)
• 8 oz light raisins (1 ⅓ cups)
• 3 oz candied orange peel (⅓ cup)
• 3 oz candied cherries (⅓ cup)
• 6 oz zante currants (1 cup)
• 1 lemon (grated zest juice)
• 6 oz brandy (⅔ cup (plus more for aging, see note))
• 7 ½ oz all purpose flour (1 ½ cups, see note)
• 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon ginger
• ½ teaspoon table salt
• 6 oz unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 6 oz brown sugar (¾ cup)
• 4 large eggs (room temperature)

Instructions
1. Combine 1 ½ oz almonds, 3 oz walnuts, 12 oz dark raisins, 8 oz light raisins, 3 oz candied orange peel, 3 oz candied cherries, 6 oz zante currants, with the zest and juice of 1 lemon. Add 6 oz brandy and toss to coat the fruit and nuts with the liquor. Cover the bowl and let it sit overnight.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 °F. Line a 9″x 3″ cake pan with a parchment round.

3. Sift together 7 ½ oz all purpose flour, 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, ½ teaspoon ginger and ½ teaspoon table salt. Set aside.

4. In a large mixing bowl, cream 6 oz unsalted butter and 6 oz brown sugar until light and aerated. Scrape down the bowl and the beater. Add 4 large eggs, two at a time. Mix until combined then scrape down the bowl and the beater.

5. With the mixer running on low speed, add the dry ingredients in 3 batches and mix until combined. Fold in the soaked fruit and all the liquid.

6. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan and spread it out to an even layer. Bake until a toothpick poked in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 55 minutes. As soon as the pan is removed from the oven pour ¼ cup of brandy over the top of the cake.

7. Cool the cake to room temperature before removing from the pan. Wrap the cake in two layers of plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature.

8. Once a week for at least 4 weeks, unwrap the cake and generously brush on all sides with more brandy. The cake can be served as is or you can ice and decorate the cake with marzipan and fondant.

MERCH: https://manitowocminute.com/collections

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For more Manitowoc Minute click here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRY-eAwoPfKBdGfuDu081r-bSMapeg0GB

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Written by Charlie Berens

Comments

This post currently has 46 comments.

  14. @JessicaWilliams-w8q

    February 7, 2026 at 10:59 pm

    Beren…..you dropped the stein?
    Did you not want to be connected to the bad fat joke called epstein told the world over, rape-ists?
    Why was l.a coffin allowed to sign my military medical file when I was a drugged 11 year old girl and being tortured by family in 1991?

  18. @hawaboutnow

    February 7, 2026 at 10:59 pm

    Can't wait for more Berens family recipe — Halloween coming soon ❤❤❤❤ And Mrs. Beren, you are a saint, a superhero. I only have two and I am….. Losing my mind

    PS: I think I'm also raising a Charlie. He's 5

  24. @DaTrixie

    February 7, 2026 at 10:59 pm

    I'm sorry, but I'm a MO gal. And when a Midwestern Mom gives you "that look" even as a dang ol girl….I reckon there ain't not sure there are more powerful moms on earth.

  28. @MentalRaccoonGlass

    February 7, 2026 at 10:59 pm

    What is your parenting tip for losing your only child to cancer along with your career so you could be there when he died? Then having not one person reach out in 9 months since he died to see how you are and possibly have a drink, chat, or go fishing. More Brandy?

  35. @k.587

    February 7, 2026 at 10:59 pm

    Charlie, your entire family is so awesome, loving and supportive!
    It's families like yours that are the thread of American Values and morals! It's so nice to see videos of a traditional Catholic family that empowers love and honesty for each other with a glaze of humor.

  40. @sueostergaard8691

    February 7, 2026 at 10:59 pm

    Put that brandy in the cake.
    Soak the dried fruit in brandy fir a week befire making cake.
    Put the nuts in brandy for 1 day befire making cake.
    Make the cake.
    Drench cooked cake in brandy.
    Wrap in cheesecloth and put in tupperware container. Baste with brandy weekly, put back in the container.
    Repeat weekly fir a month or so until it is ready to eat.

Comments are closed.

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