What’s Up, Hungry People

Fruitcake gets a bad rap around the holidays. A once quintessential holiday dessert, fruitcake is now the butt end of holiday jokes.

This year, I’ve decided to give fruitcake a 21st-century makeover and combine it with another modern-day Christmas classic: candy bark.

This ‘Fruitcake Crack’ contains all the classic flavors of fruitcake in a much more palatable combination that probably will last as long as the real deal.

Here’s What You Need

White chocolate chips: The base for our crack, smooth and creamy.
Red candy melts: For festive color and a hint of extra sweetness.
Salted pistachios: Adds a nutty, salty crunch.
Walnuts: Brings a classic nutty flavor to the mix.
Salted peanuts: A familiar taste with a bit of salt.
Dried green cherries: Adds a pop of color and fruity sweetness.
Dried apricots: Sweet and slightly tangy.
Crystallized ginger: A bit of spicy-sweet warmth.
Golden raisins: Little bursts of sweetness.
Dried dates: Chewy and rich in flavor.
Dried pineapple bits: Tropical sweetness.
Dried tart red cherries: A tart counterpoint to the sweetness.
Crystal sprinkles (optional): For a festive, icy appearance.

Let’s Cook

Start with white chocolate chips and a double boiler. I don’t recommend using a microwave to melt the white chocolate because it’s very easy to scald and ruin white chocolate. It has a much lower melting point than regular milk or dark chocolate. You can make a DIY double boiler with a heatproof bowl over a few inches of water in a pot.

Once your white chocolate is melted and smooth, line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper on the bottom and sides. Pour the melted white chocolate into the pan and spread it evenly into the corners.

While the white chocolate is still warm, place red candy melts in alternating rows or patterns. Wait 3-4 minutes until the red candy melts are glossy and melted, then use a knife to create swirling patterns with the candy melts into the white chocolate.

Next, sprinkle on the nuts to your desired taste. I used about 1-2 tablespoons of each type of nut. Once again, use the knife to swirl the nuts into the white chocolate.

Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons, or as desired, of the remaining dried fruits onto the white chocolate. Swirl a knife through again to secure the fruits to the chocolate. Add a pinch of crystal sprinkles for an icy appearance.

Transfer the chocolate to the fridge and chill for 3-4 hours, or until the chocolate has hardened completely.

Once the chocolate is fully set, remove it from the pan and pull off the parchment paper. Break and crack the chocolate into bite-sized pieces. Serve to friends, family, and coworkers as a holiday gift or sneak bites as a sweet Christmas snack.

Tips and Troubleshooting

Avoiding Scalding the Chocolate: White chocolate burns easily due to its low melting point. Always use a double boiler or a heatproof bowl over a pot of simmering water instead of a microwave.
Swirling Perfection: To get beautiful swirls with the candy melts, let them sit for a few minutes on the warm chocolate until they are glossy. Then, use a toothpick or a knife to create intricate patterns.
Chilling Time: Make sure to give the chocolate enough time to harden completely in the fridge. Rushing this step might result in uneven texture and breakage.
Nut Allergies: If you or someone you’re serving has nut allergies, substitute the nuts with seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds for a similar crunch.
Storage: Store the Fruitcake Crack in an airtight container at room temperature. It will keep for several weeks, making it perfect for holiday gift-giving.

This contemporary twist on fruitcake brings those nostalgic flavors into the modern age. I made two batches of the fruitcake crack to give to family and coworkers – my fiancé’s batch for his coworkers was devoured in just minutes, proving that the flavors of fruitcake are just as strong as they were back in fruitcake’s heyday. The combination of white chocolate and dried fruits with a festive touch makes this treat irresistible. Whether you’re gifting it or enjoying it yourself, this fruitcake crack is sure to become a new holiday favorite. Give it a try and see how quickly it disappears from the plate. Happy holidays, Hungry People!

Fruitcake Crack

The Starving Chef

This fruitcake candy bark combines white chocolate with dried fruits and nuts for a festive holiday treat.

No ratings yet

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe

Prep Time 1

Chill Time 4

Total Time 5

Course Christmas

Cuisine Candy, Holidays

Servings lb candy

Equipment

Ingredients

32 oz white chocolate chips
½ cup red candy melts
2 tablespoons salted pistachios shell free
2 tablespoons walnuts
2 tablespoons salted peanuts
2 tablespoons dried green cherries
2 tablespoons dried apricots
2 tablespoons crystallized ginger
2 tablespoons golden raisins
2 tablespoons dried dates
2 tablespoons dried pineapple bits
2 tablespoons dried tart red cherries
2 tablespoons crystal sprinkles optional

Instructions

In a double boiler, melt the white chocolate until it is smooth. DO NOT MICROWAVE WHITE CHOCOLATE.
Line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper on the bottom and sides. Pour the melted white chocolate into the pan and spread it into the corners in an even layer.
While the white chocolate is still warm, place red candy melts in alternating rows or patterns. Wait 3-4 minutes until the red candy melts are glossy and melted, then use a knife to create swirling patterns with the candy melts into the white chocolate.
Sprinkle on the nuts to your desired taste – I used about 1-2 tablespoons of each type of nut. Once again, use the knife to swirl the nuts into the white chocolate.
Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons, or as desired, of the remaining dried fruits onto the white chocolate. Swirl a knife through again to secure the fruits to the chocolate. Add a pinch of crystal sprinkles for an icy appearance.
Transfer the chocolate to the fridge and chill for 3-4 hours, or until the chocolate has hardened completely.
Remove the chocolate from the pan and pull off the parchment paper. Break and crack the chocolate into bite-sized pieces. Serve to friends, family, and coworkers as a holiday gift or sneak bites as a sweet Christmas snack. Enjoy!