FRUIT COCKTAIL CAKE

This Fruit Cocktail Cake is definitely one of my favorites. I am not a fan of fruit cocktail but I love it in this cake. I had not made this cake in years and someone asked me about it before Christmas. I bought the fruit cocktail and am just now getting around to making the cake. Today, was the perfect day to make it. It is the first day of spring and I felt like something sweet and good.
Fruit Cocktail Cake Ingredients Needed:
All-purpose flour
Baking soda
Salt
Ground nutmeg
White granulated sugar
Eggs
Butter
Vanilla extract
Fruit cocktail in syrup
Brown sugar
Nuts (I used pecans)
Many people remember the traditional fruit cakes that come out at Christmas. This cake is nothing like those but would still be a great addition to any holiday gathering. You could easily put a caramel frosting on this cake or cream cheese frosting, both would be delicious. You could also just sprinkle with powdered sugar or top with whipped cream. This cake goes wonderful with coffee too. Super versatile!


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Fruit Cocktail Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 3/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 4 tablespoons butter , softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 15 1/2 ounce can fruit cocktail in syrup, undrained
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup nuts I used pecans
Instructions
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and nutmeg and set aside. Cream the white sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla extract with a mixer. Add the two together and continue mixing. Fold in the fruit cocktail and mix with a spoon.
- Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray and spread the cake batter in the dish. Sprinkle the 1/4 cup brown sugar over the top of the batter along with the nuts. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes checking for doneness since ovens vary.
- Serve with whipped cream or ice cream on top. This cake does not need frosting. It is just that good but you could add about any type of frosting if you want.
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I am so very stoked to find this recipe for the fruit cocktail cake my mom used to make it all the time when I was a little growing up with my siblings I loved it so much and have been wanting to make it for such a long time now and when I saw the recipe I was so excited and I wondered what about the topping and then I saw a woman said about her mom and how she put a coconut glaze on the top and I thought oh my God my dreams come true I finally have this recipe so I’m going to make it for just Thanksgiving holiday I’ll get back to you let you know how it turned out as I have never made a fruit cocktail cake ever in my life I’ve only eaten it with my mom made it I’m so excited I can’t wait to be continued when I have made the cake I will take a picture and let everyone know how it turned out thank you so much happy holidays wishing you all the love luck and happiness
We are thrilled you found the recipe and hope its exactly what you have been looking for! Happy holidays!
A blast from the past! Ty for the memories
My Mother made this recipe for a lot of family holidays but she made a glaze w/coconut for the topping. We now make it in her memory.
Why does my fruit cocktail cake always collapse in middle? It tastes awesome but not very presentable…
It could be a lot of things. Check to make sure your baking powder is good. Don’t open and shut the oven door during the cooking process. Don’t over mix the batter. Try dropping your uncooked cake onto the counter top before putting into the oven to make sure it does not have air bubbles in the mixture. Hope this helps.
when I make a Mexican fruit cake I turn off the oven and crack the door and let it cool in the oven and I found that it helps with the middle of the cake from collapsing
I have been looking for this recipe. My mother was wanting me to make one says her mother made this all the time. I am going to surprise her with this for Christmas.
Favorite for years in our family but sprinkled chocolate chips ojn top of batter before baking
Can you substitute self rising flour for all purpose?
Yes, I think you could do that, Kay.
Thanks for the quick response. I love your recipes and helpful hints.
A tried and true Old Kentucky recipe. My mother-in-law’s regular dessert offering – she was from Leitchfield, KY….and passed it on to me. It is a good one – nice to see it posted here.
Thanks so much for recipe. I have a couple of them from my motherinlaw but different amounts of sugar and fruit cocktail all vary and cook times vary too. Thanks again for everything!!! Nici MIn
This looks so good… Can’t wait to try it. I love your new print set up!!! It is so nice to have a picture to go with the recipe if you want. This is my favorite recipe website…
Thank you so much Barb. So happy to have you on the site. Have a good weekend.
Thanks for the memories of my days living in the south…we had a neighbor that always made this cake. I haven’t had it in years.
This is indeed a blast from the past! In my tiny hometown, everyone was making this when I was growing up. It also had the boiled topping. If you were invited to anyone’s house after church, you KNEW what they were going to offer you! Lol…thanks for the memories!
How do I print off your recipe? I tried clicking on the title but no printing icon appeared, Judy.
Look at the bottom of the recipe and you will see a small picture of a printer. Click on that.
My grandmother made this and the whole family loved it. She put a topping on hers: 1 STICK OF BUTTER, 1 CUP SUGAR, 1 SMALL CAN EVAPORATED MILK, 1 TEASPOON VANILLA, 1 CUP FLAKED COCONUT, 1 CUP PECANS – PLACE BUTTER, MILK, SUGAR AND VANILLA IN SAUCEPAN, BOIL 1 MINUTE. ADD COCUNUT AND PECANS AND SPREAD OVER WARM CAKE.
That’s the way I was taught to make it by my aunt 50 years ago!!
glad you like this too! My Mom made it for years and through the years I have made it many times. so easy and good. Marion
Oh how I love this cake. Remember it from long ago….AHHH – thanks for the reminder.
My Mother made this cake “routinely”……70 years ago, I remember,…… and her Mother, my grandma ……before her!…….amazing how “tags” get added to old time homesteader original recipes
This sounds wonderful. Definitely going to make this
My,my…I remember this so well. Everyone made it and I had forgotten how good it was. Thank for the memories.