Should fruit cake lose its Christmas reign?

WE SAY:

This hardy dessert has stood the test of time but is it time for a new dessert to step into the (Christmas) light? Tell us what kiwi classic you’d put in its place.

YOU SAY:

Love, love, love a good rich fruit cake – at any time of the year. Once upon a time, rich fruit cakes were used for weddings and Christmas but now it’s only Christmas as people have gone a lot more modern with their wedding cakes nowadays.

But they will still be part of our Christmas tradition – as long as I can make one. Debbie from Auckland Central

Made it for my mum as her Christmas present one year and she expected it every Christmas before she passed away. Reason why I tried that one year, was what to buy a person who has everything? Wasn’t expecting the enjoyment that was told to me. So then a fruit cake was made for her birthday every year. Irene from Gonville

We don’t have it as a dessert but rather with a cup of tea/coffee. My husband loves it. He feels connected to his childhood memories and past family members of Christmas in the 60s, 70s and up to today. Traditional food has more than just taste to it.

Joanne from Bell Block

If you don’t like a heavy fruit cake try this one. 1kg mixed fruit, 2 cups diet dry ginger ale, 2 cups self-raising flour. Soak fruit in ginger ale overnight. Next morning add flour and mix well. Bake 1h at 380C. It can be iced or eaten as is … Makes an 8in square cake.

Carroll from Blenheim

Steam pudding or trifle is my Christmas preference ... yummo.

Rebecca from Strathmore Park

When we immigrated to New Zealand in June 1984 we lived for a few weeks in our sponsor’s house. Going through Margaret’s kitchen, I discovered a peculiar tin with an even more peculiar piece of something that I guessed was unknown to me, a cake. “Oh, this is a Christmas cake,” Margaret said.It was July … I received a slice, and despite the age of it, I was hooked, the taste and fruitiness and sufficiently moist. Now I have dozens of recipes and never will forget my intro to this delicacy.

Iwar from Ngaio

Some people will hate to hear this but it’s only the boomer generation keeping the fruit cake alive. In a few years time they will disappear. The cake that is. Jessica from Wainuiomata

If you need to why not replace it with the good old pav?

Michael from Pukerua

It is not a dessert, it is given with a cup of tea or coffee, a Christmas dessert is a steamed fruit pudding served with custard or ice cream, and silver coins placed inside when serving up, the kids big and little loved it.

Andrea from Carterton

Learnt this from a colleague from the North of England: eat it with cheese. Sounds barmy but it’s quite good. Andrew and Jessica from Richmond