CORSICANA, Texas — In a holiday filled with classic sweets — candy canes, gingerbread and sugarplums — there’s one that’s appearing less often: fruitcake.
In recent decades, the number of feasts on dessert tables has been decreasing. This may be due in part to Johnny Carson’s declaration years ago: “The worst gift is a fruitcake. There’s only one fruitcake in the whole world, and people keep sending it to each other.”
But fruitcake has been featured at historic events for centuries, including with Princess Diana and King Charles. Marriage and a trip to moon On Apollo 11.
Today, more than 2 million fruitcakes sold Every year in the United States, 20,000 people come daily from a small town in Texas. The bakery’s home is in Corsicana, a town about 50 miles south of Dallas.
Colin Street Bakery Fruitcake has been in business for over 125 years. “I promise you this. If every American got a Collin Street Bakery fruitcake at Christmas, every house today would still have fruitcake at Christmas, because our house is so different,” said Thomas McNutt.
McNutt, the bakery’s third-generation owner, said quality ingredients make a big difference.
Each Collin Street Fruitcake features Texas pecans, pineapple, raisins and cherries blended into a batter, decorated by hand and baked.
“Some people will try to cook a product only for the season, really, without regard to quality… You can taste a $2 wine or a $2,000 wine, and there’s a big difference below and above, and it’s the same in the fruitcake world,” said Bob McNutt, another family owner.
The bakery has delivered the fruitcakes. celebritiesPolitician and even made a cameo in the 1972 classic film “The Godfather.” Colin Street is so confident in its quality that it even offers a money-back guarantee.
For customers like Bill Baxter, it’s all about nostalgia. “It brings back memories of what used to be,” he said. “It’s relaxing.”
The McNutts say sharing those traditions across generations is part of their mission.
“From grandma and grandpa to grandkids, many people love to sit down and enjoy a fruitcake at Christmas,” said Bob McNutt.
“We think there’s a new kind of appreciation for tradition, family, gathering and celebrating,” Thomas McNutt said. “So fruitcake fits right into that.”
