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Home » Desserts That Deliver

Boozy Fruit Cake with Fireball Whiskey

By Gary White
This post may contain affiliate links.
Read my full disclosure here.

Published December 20, 2018. Last modified August 1, 2025 By Gary White

Jump to Recipe
Fruit cake image for Pinterest

This Christmas Fruit Cake with Fireball Whiskey is a delicious spiced cake with Fireball-soaked fruit.

Fruit cake sliced on wooden cutting board

I didn't grow up eating fruit cake. It was actually the butt of lots of jokes as far as I can remember. However, my wife's family loves it. I learned that fruitcake, when done right, can be delicious. And, if you know me, then you know I'm all about creating boozy versions of classic desserts. So this boozy fruit cake is actually the first fruit cake I've ever made.

After quite a bit of research into traditional fruitcake, I made a few adjustments to the traditional ingredients. First, I used Fireball to add cinnamon flavor, but I didn't actually add cinnamon. Second, I swapped the artificially flavored and died candied fruit- which according to this article is actually melon rind that's been dyed and flavored - with real, dried, fruit. And I really hate those bright red cherries swimming in chemicals that I can't even pronounce, so instead I used bada bing cherries that you would use to make Old Fashions!

 

The Process

diced dried fruits on cutting board
Cut dried fruits into small pieces. All pieces should be about the size of raisins.
dried fruits and citrus zest in Pyrex dish
Place fruit in a dish that can be covered with an airtight seal, like a Pyrex dish. Using a microplane, top the fruit with zest of lemon and orange.
dried fruits soaking in Fireball whiskey in Pyrex dish
Pour in Fireball whiskey. Mix well, then press fruit down so that they're all submerged.
dried fruits soaking in Fireball whiskey in Pyrex dish
Cover with airtight seal and leave at room temperature overnight. If need be, you can microwave them for 5 minutes - but it's not the same.
dried fruits, butter, apple cider, and spices in pot
Add whiskey-soaked fruit to pot, along with butter, sugar, apple cider, and spices. Bring up to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes - stirring frequently.
cooked dried fruits with butter and sugar
Then remove from heat and allow to cool completely, or at least 20 minutes.
flour, salt, and baking powder in mixing bowl with whisk
Add all dry ingredients to mixing bowl - flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix together with a whisk.
fine mesh strainer over pot
Using a fine mesh strainer (or a sifter, if you have one)...
fine mesh strainer over pot with flour
...pour dry ingredients into strainer...
sifting flour with fine mesh strainer over pot
...and sift into wet ingredients.
sifted flour on top of dried fruits in pot
...and sift into wet ingredients.
sifted flour on top of dried fruits in pot with rubber spatula
Using a rubber spatula...
fruit cake batter in pot with rubber spatula
...mix together all ingredients.
fruit cake batter with an egg in pot with rubber spatula
Once fully combined, add and mix eggs one at a time...
fruit cake batter in pot with rubber spatula
...until fully incorporated.
loaf pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray
Spray a 10-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
loaf pan filled with uncooked fruit cake batter
Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for one hour in an oven preheated to 325 degrees. Check with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, it's done. If not, cook and check every 10 minutes. Then remove and allow to cool completely before removing from pan. You may need to use a knife to help release from edges, then very carefully turn out cake. It's very moist and fragile.

And this is the AMAZING Result…

Fruit cake sliced on wooden cutting board

★ Did you make this Boozy Fruit Cake? Please give it a star rating below! ★

📖 Recipe

Fruit cake sliced on wooden cutting board

Boozy Fruit Cake with Fireball Whiskey

Delicious spiced cake with Fireball-soaked fruits.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, British
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 365kcal
Author: Gary White

Ingredients 

  • ½ cup dried apricots
  • ½ cup dried pineapples
  • ½ cup golden raisins
  • ½ cup pitted dates
  • ½ cup bada bing cherries
  • ¼ cup crystalized ginger
  • zest of one orange
  • zest of one lemon
  • 300 ml Fireball whiskey
  • 5 oz. butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup apple cider
  • 1 tsp. ground ginger
  • ½ tsp. ground allspice
  • ¼ tsp. ground cloves
  • 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

  • Cut dried fruits into small pieces. All pieces should be about the size of raisins. Place fruit in a dish that can be covered with an airtight seal, like a Pyrex dish. Using a microplane, top the fruit with zest of lemon and orange. Pour in Fireball whiskey. Mix well, then press fruit down so that they’re all submerged. Cover with airtight seal and leave at room temperature overnight. If need be, you can microwave them for 5 minutes – but it’s not the same.
  • Add whiskey-soaked fruit to pot, along with butter, sugar, apple cider, and spices. Bring up to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes – stirring frequently. Then remove from heat and allow to cool completely, or at least 20 minutes.
  • Add all dry ingredients to mixing bowl – flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix together with a whisk. Using a fine mesh strainer (or a sifter, if you have one), pour dry ingredients into strainer and sift into wet ingredients. 
  • Using a rubber spatula, mix together all ingredients. Once fully combined, add and mix eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.
  • Spray a 10-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for one hour in an oven preheated to 325 degrees. Check with a toothpick. If it comes out clean, it’s done. If not, cook and check every 10 minutes. 
  • Then remove and allow to cool completely before removing from pan. You may need to use a knife to help release from edges, then very carefully turn out cake. It’s very moist and fragile.

Nutrition

Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 450mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 605IU | Vitamin C: 0.7mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1.6mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rebecca

    December 27, 2018 at 12:16 pm

    5 stars
    This was so moist and had a great flavor. The fireball wasn't overpowering at all, just the right touch.

    Reply
  2. LEON AALDERKS

    November 03, 2020 at 11:59 am

    Can these be made ahead & frozen.
    Can these be made in smaller tins?

    Reply
    • Gary White

      November 04, 2020 at 7:47 am

      I believe the answer to both questions is yes; Although, I have not tested either.

      Reply
  3. Cecilia

    December 31, 2024 at 8:21 pm

    5 stars
    Best fruitcake ever. Served warm with brandy butter. Easy to follow recipe, whips up without any hassle, baked in mini loafs so I could share with friends. Will start a Christmas tradition. Thanks for your idea.

    Reply
5 from 2 votes

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Meet Gary

I'm Gary... husband, dad, recipe developer, and comfort food nerd. I believe in real food for real life. This blog? It’s where I share the recipes my family actually eats. Simple, soulful, and full of flavor. My goal is simple: help you cook food worth making again. More about me...

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