In search of the perfect fruitcake

It’s one of those holiday foods that when done poorly becomes the butt of endless jokes, but when a Christmas fruitcake is baked to perfection, it’s a treat that’s hard to beat. Tonight Ann-Marie thinks she found a cake that will stand the test of time.

Ann-Marie Williams, Reporting

What started out as merely a hobby, has transformed itself into a cottage industry, if only at the holidays, for teacher Deanna Nisbet.

Deanna Nisbet

“I started out making for friends who make orders for Christmas. They order, whether it’s a one-pound cake, two-pound, three-pounds and actually, this is the first time that I’ve had my cakes in Save-U. They asked me to make the white fruitcake because most people make black. And as I do so, it has been very successful.”

Her success started out in the confines of D’s Kitchen, but did not stay there. Her creations, particularly white fruitcakes, can be found prominently displayed on the shelves of Save-u supermarket.

Verna James, Purchasing Manager, Save-U

“People do give the fruitcakes for gifts because they are very convenient because they already have the tags that mark to and from. They are selling very fast.”

Deanna Nisbet

“Basic ingredients: flour, sugar, fruit, egg, and of course we use the local Old Master Silver Rum. Apart from that, I probably wouldn’t give you the recipe, but it’s just a combination including fruits and of course walnuts, pecans and whatever you have at that time.”

Ann-Marie Williams

“What makes a good fruitcake, because although it’s a delicious cake, a lot of people don’t like it.”

Deanna Nisbet

“Well, I think a lot of people don’t like it with lots of fruit. In other words, more fruit than flour, and I think that’s the way I do it. And I don’t make it with a lot of rum, it’s made with al rum, but that’s made to our taste here and I find that’s the way people like it.”

And for all the people in your life who like a fruitcake, they make great gifts.

Deanna Nisbet

“I just put a bow, I’m able to buy the containers here, thank goodness, before we couldn’t get them here. I buy them and we just package them, and it’s so easy to take off the shelf and give it to someone. I think receiving a cake is good. Some people don’t like to make cakes, some like to make cakes, and I think it’s convenient as well as well as Christmasy for people.”

Ann-Marie Williams for News 5.

Fruitcakes from D’s Kitchen can be purchased at Save-U or you can place your orders by calling Deanna Nisbet at phone number 02-30639 before its too late.