NEW CAMOLIDOLI HERMITAGE

Paul's Fruitcake Corner

Welcome to Paul’s Fruitcake Corner. Here at the Corner we try fruitcakes so you do not have to. Today’s cake from New Camaldoli Hermitage may qualify as a religious experience in the fruitcake world. It is made by catholic monks in Big Sur, California. This was a very special cake and really stood out as far as quality, uniqueness and flavor. My first descriptor is sticky. You cannot help but get this fruitcake stuck on fingers, plates and lips. This is a 1 pound cake made with cherries, pineapples, California raisins, walnuts, dates, and Georgia pecans, and soaked in brandy. It is a dark cake that is tender and moist. You get a small hint of brandy but this does not overpower. Overall this is one special yummy cake that is highly recommended by the Fruitcake Corner.

SWISS PANTRY

 

Paul’s Fruitcake Corner

Welcome to Paul’s Fruitcake Corner. Here at the corner we try fruitcake so you do not have to. Swiss Pantry from Belvedere Tennessee is in the house today. Swiss Pantry with Mennonite and Swiss roots is a small unique local bakery, deli and bulk food store. I love the ingredient list which is very short; nuts, candied fruit, raisins, sugar, flour, eggs, flavoring and leavening agent. Simple ingredients make this a very enjoyable fruitcake experience. It is very dense and heavy. It is full of fruits & nuts with the tiniest amount of batter to hold it all together. It is not overly sweet with a honey/brown sugar feeling. It is a little chewy in the best way possible. This is one of my favorite cakes. Get you some.

Note: This is a seasonal cake that I ordered over the phone (land line w/rotary dial). They took my name and address and asked me what size did I want? They said thankyou and hung up. Three days later it showed up on my door. There was no invoice and I had not given them any credit information. I called them up and paid for it over the phone. Wow, that is some trust and unusual for this day and age.

Gladys’ Bakery

 

Paul’s Fruitcake Corner

Welcome to Paul’s Fruitcake Corner. Here at the corner we will try fruitcake so you do not have to. Everything is bigger in Texas including the fruitcakes. Gladys’ Bakery boasts they have a 150 pound Worlds’ larges Texas-shaped fruitcake. I bought a two pound ‘old fashioned Czech pecan fruitcake loaf’. It is very festive looking with its top arrangement of glace cherries and pecans. It tastes very good with a moist, cakelike consistency. The candied fruits and pecans are generously distributed throughout.  The label boasts; No citron, citrus peel, raisins or spices added. “Hmmmm”. Hey, what’s wrong with citrus peel, raisins and spices? (Citron has a bad rap.) Against my better judgement I looked at the ingredient list to see what was added. High fructose corn syrup, corn syrup and a laundry list of chemicals were found along with cherries and pineapple.

Overall Glady’s makes a very decent cake. I enjoyed it but did not do any somersaults after reading the ingredient list.

DESIGNINATED PIE ROOM

 

 I am really starting to like craft fairs. How could one resist Holiday festival that sells crafts, baked goods, entertainment, pies and actually has a designated pie room? Our local church El Sobrante United Methodist Church has all that and more. This slice of peach pie and coffee set me back all of three dollars. I did not leave empty handed. I bought this pecan pie and assorted jams. Good times!

COLLEGE OF THE OZARKS

 

Paul’s Fruitcake Corner

Welcome to Paul’s Fruitcake Corner. Here at the corner we will try fruitcake so you do not have to. We travel to Point Look, Missouri to try a cake made from students at the College of the Ozarks. College of the Ozarks is a Christian College since 1906. The students sell hand made products to raise funds for the school. This is a 1 pound cake and it arrived in a smart tin decorated with the schools logo. I was really impressed with how moist this cake was. It had the usual suspects of glaced fruits and pecans. It was what I think of a traditional fruitcake. Overall this was a very good cake. Take a look at their on-line catalog because they have a lot of fun food items and a collection of “A Legacy of Love Quilts”.

DOMINICAN SISTERS OF MISSION SAN JOSE

 

Paul’s Fruitcake Corner

Welcome to Paul’s fruitcake corner. Here at the corner we try fruitcakes so you do not have to. Today we have a local cake from the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose. This cake is popular and if you do not hit the small window for mail order or their yearly one day boutique sale you will miss out. I have learned this over the years the hard way. The sisters make only 1,500 cakes and they will sell out.

   This cake is moist and flavorful. It is full of raisins, pineapple; strawberry preserves (unique), almonds with a brown sugar/molasses forward taste. It is cakelike with lots of batter and is crumbly. It has a fruit forward flavor which is very enticing. It does have a hint of brandy but you have to search for this nuance. I recommend this cake. If you do pursue purchase, check out the sister’s olive oil and honey. Good stuff.