Top 8: Raisin to the occasion with these shop-bought fruit cakes

Pic: iStock

Our last fruit cake survey in 2016 went down well with readers who have a sweet tooth and like a bit of substance in their treats. We started from scratch for this survey and sought cakes we hadn’t tried before.

Dried fruit is high in calories, and contains natural, concentrated sugars, which can reduce the amount of sugar needed in cakes. It also contains fibre and iron. The cakes we tested had protein, which could sustain us for a few hours.

Local bakers are worth seeking out. If we don’t buy from small businesses, they will close, like many restaurants.

With a little sunshine appearing at last, fruit cake makes a satisfying snack to take to the beach or on a country walk. Just slice, wrap and you’re ready to go.

Any cakes with a long shelf life will have a number of additives, which often lead to a heavy, claggy mouthfeel. While our tasters were critical of these textures, they found the tastes quite pleasant.

Fruit cake is easy to make once you’ve bought the ingredients. Odlum’s website has an excellent recipe — you’ll find others in most traditional cookbooks.

Baking Emporium spelt fruit cake

Baking Emporium spelt fruit cake 800g €8.50

An excellent example of how well spelt flour can be used. 

The flavoursome crumb has plenty of good cherries, plump sultanas, raisins and a little mixed peel. Not too heavy, yet substantial. Delicious. 

Available from its shop in Clonakilty and ten farmers’ markets throughout Co Cork. I bought at the Wednesday market in Ballincollig. 

For other markets see Bakingemporiumltd.com

Score: 10

ABC Fruit Loaf. Picture: David Keane.

ABC Sultana Madeira 760g €5.50

Top-quality Turkish sultanas in this fruity Madeira were a hit with all tasters. 

Well textured, substantial but light, with just the right amount of fruit. The cake tasted homemade. Fair price.

Score: 9.5

Cinnamon Cottage Fruit Cake. Picture: David Keane.

The Cinnamon Cottage Dundee cake 782g €22

Beautifully wrapped to give as a treat, this cake is dense with fruit as expected with a Dundee, with a touch of brandy, echoing a light Christmas cake. 

The sultanas, raisins and glacé cherries are top quality, with some candied peel. Whole almonds on top give a delicious, attractive bite and finish. 

Tasters were taken aback by the price at first but recognised the quality and would happily make a gift of it.

Score: 9.5

M&S Fruit Loaf. Picture: David Keane.

M&S Dundee cake 815g €16

We liked this good-quality fruit and nuts with a touch of sticky toffee flavour, possibly due to the marmalade. Dense and rich was the verdict. Built for long life (to the end of July) there is a lot of glucose-fructose syrup which makes it sweeter and less natural in flavour than the other Dundee cakes tested, but tasters approved. The Brazil nut, almond and cherry Genoa cake (775g €16) was enjoyed equally.

Score: 8.5

Aldi Gráinne's Fruit Cake. Picture: David Keane.

Aldi Gráinne’s fruit cake 410g €1.95

Good quality entry-level, especially at the price, but very little fruit, which some taters appreciated. Young tasters liked this.

Score: 7

O'Hara's Fruit Cake. Picture: David Keane.

O’Haras fruit cake 410g €3.35

A light fruit cake, the texture was a little claggy on the palate, but the fruit is pretty good. Unremarkable, but a good one for children’s after-school snacks. We bought in Tesco.

Score: 7

Coolmore Fruit Cake. Picture: David Keane.

Coolmore fruit cake 400g €4

Good entry-level standard, agreed a few tasters. One young taster didn’t like the flavouring. Light on fruit, which was appreciated by some.

Made in West Cork, we bought in SuperValu. Also spotted in Tesco.

Score: 7.5

Wellness Fruit Cake. Picture: David Keane.

Wellness Baking Listowel fruit cake 350g €5.99

A typically gluten-free dry texture. Ground almonds help, and orange juice is used with sultanas, raisins, cherries, dried apricots, currants and mixed peel. While not the favourite, with good fruit, it’s an improvement on other gluten-free fruit cakes. It’s dairy-free too. We bought in SuperValu.

Score: 7