Friendship Fruit Cake

Here’s a classic Friendship Fruit Cake recipe, often made with a fermented fruit starter and passed down among friends. This recipe includes how to make the starter and how to use it for the cake.

🍓 Friendship Fruit Starter (30-Day Fermented Base)

Ingredients:

• 1 (16 oz) can sliced peaches with juice

• 1 (16 oz) can pineapple chunks with juice

• 1 (10 oz) jar maraschino cherries, drained and halved

• 1 cup sugar (every time you add fruit)

• 1 package dry active yeast

Directions:

1. Day 1: In a large glass jar or plastic container, mix peaches (with juice), 1 cup sugar, and yeast. Stir well. Cover loosely with a lid or cloth (don’t seal airtight) and leave at room temperature.

2. Day 10: Add pineapple chunks (with juice) and 1 cup sugar. Stir well.

3. Day 20: Add maraschino cherries and 1 cup sugar. Stir.

4. Day 30: Stir and divide the fruit mixture into 3 parts:

   • Keep one for yourself to bake.

   • Give away 2 portions with 1 cup of the starter liquid to two friends.

   • If you want to start again, save 1 cup liquid + start over at Day 1.

🍰 Friendship Fruit Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 portion of fermented fruit (from starter)

• 1 box yellow or butter cake mix (without pudding in mix)

• 1 small box instant vanilla pudding

• 4 large eggs

• 2/3 cup oil

• 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut (optional)

• 1 cup golden raisins (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (165°C).

2. Grease and flour a bundt pan or 2 loaf pans.

3. In a large bowl, mix cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, and oil until smooth.

4. Fold in the fruit mixture and any optional ingredients.

5. Pour batter into prepared pan(s).

6. Bake for 60–75 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

7. Let cool in pan for 10–15 minutes, then turn out onto a rack.

🔁 Notes:

• Do not refrigerate the starter during the 30 days.

• Stir the fruit mixture daily to prevent fermentation gases from building up.

• Only use non-metal containers and utensils.