Let’s be honest—when someone says “fruitcake,” your mind probably jumps to the dense, overly sweet brick of a loaf no one actually wants to eat.
I used to feel the same—until I found this bread machine recipe. It delivers the festive flavors of candied fruit and nuts without the cloying sweetness or heavy texture.
This is not your grandma’s fruitcake—it’s better. And trust me, once you try it warm with a little butter or that optional buttered rum glaze, you’ll be baking it all holiday season.
Why This Bread Machine Recipe Changes the Fruitcake Game
This isn’t just a bread machine recipe—it’s a cozy holiday makeover in loaf form. Designed for the Sweet setting on your bread machine, it brings out the perfect golden crust and fluffy crumb while infusing each bite with spiced warmth.
What makes it shine:
- Balanced flavors from cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves
- Customizable mix-ins like golden raisins, cranberries, or a premade fruit-and-nut blend
- Moist, tender texture with a slight chew from chopped hazelnuts or candied orange peel
Unlike traditional fruitcake, this loaf is light enough for breakfast, bold enough for gifting, and delicious enough to disappear in one sitting.
Perfect Occasions for Serving (and Gifting)
This hearty loaf pulls double duty—impressing guests and solving your gifting dilemmas.
- Holiday brunches: Slice and serve next to a cinnamon latte bar or warm cider.
- After-dinner treat: Pair it with whipped cream or a drizzle of buttered rum glaze.
- Edible gift: Wrap a loaf in parchment, tie it with a velvet ribbon, and gift it alongside a bottle of wine or holiday tea.
- Teacher & coworker gifts: One batch can make multiple smaller loaves for easy, heartfelt presents.
The key is its versatility. It’s not too sweet, so it feels appropriate at any time of day—and it looks beautiful when sliced.
Best Mix-In Ideas for the Ultimate Holiday Loaf
Here’s where you can really get creative—or keep it simple with a ready-made blend.
Recommended add-ins:
- Candied orange or lemon peel
- Golden raisins or dried cranberries
- Chopped hazelnuts, pecans, or walnuts
- Store-bought “Yuletide Cheer Fruit Blend” or trail mix-style blends
- Optional: a handful of mini chocolate chips for a sweeter twist
The beauty of this bread machine recipe is that it accommodates whatever you have in your pantry. Go bold with ginger and clove or keep it mellow with cinnamon and nuts.
Diet-Friendly Modifications That Still Taste Incredible
Whether you’re baking for a crowd or someone with dietary needs, there are simple swaps that keep the flavor intact:
- Dairy-free? Use almond or oat milk.
- Gluten-free? Try a 1:1 gluten-free bread flour substitute.
- Vegan? Replace the egg yolk with a flax egg or aquafaba (chickpea brine).
- Low sugar? Cut the sugar in half or replace it with coconut sugar.
Because it’s a bread machine recipe, the results stay consistent—even when you tweak ingredients to suit your crowd.
Easy Add-Ons That Elevate This Bread Even More
Don’t stop at the loaf. Take things to the next level with toppings, spreads, and pairings that turn this from “that’s good” to “I need the recipe.”
Try serving it with:
- A buttered rum glaze for brunch or dessert
- Honey butter or cinnamon-spiced cream cheese
- Toasted and spread with nut butter and banana slices
- A dusting of powdered sugar just before gifting
With its golden color and speckled interior, this loaf already looks festive. But with a few holiday touches, it becomes the centerpiece of your table or the most appreciated gift in the room.
It’s Not a Fruitcake Bread Machine Recipe
Equipment
- Bread machine with sweet program
- 1½- to 2-pound loaf capacity pan
Ingredients
Basic Version – 1½-pound Loaf
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp milk
- 1 egg yolk
- 3 cups bread flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ginger
- ⅛ tsp cloves
- 2 tsp yeast
Mix-ins:
- ¾ cup mixed dried fruits and nuts chopped
2-Pound Loaf Variation
- 1⅓ cups milk
- 1 egg yolk
- 4 cups bread flour
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- ¾ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp ginger
- ¼ tsp cloves
- 2½ tsp yeast
Mix-ins:
- 1 cup mixed dried fruits and nuts chopped
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to your bread machine’s baking pan in the order listed, beginning with milk and ending with yeast. Do not add the dried fruit and nut mix yet.
- Select the Sweet program on your bread machine.
- Choose the correct loaf size setting based on your ingredients (1½ or 2-pound).
- Press Start to begin the baking cycle.
- Wait for the machine to beep or prompt the mix-in cycle. Add the dried fruit and nut mix at this time. If your machine doesn’t alert, add it during the second kneading cycle.
- Once baking completes, remove the loaf from the pan and cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- The “Sweet” setting helps prevent the sugars in the dough and mix-ins from burning the crust.
- For best results, use a prepared holiday fruit mix such as the “Yuletide Cheer Fruit Blend” with chopped hazelnuts.
- For a decadent finish, drizzle with a simple buttered rum glaze.
- This bread makes a thoughtful homemade gift or a festive addition to holiday breakfasts and brunches.
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.