Fruitcake Toss Day (January 3)
Check out the weird holiday Fruitcake Toss Day on January 3. Learn the history of Fruitcake Toss Day, as well as get ideas on how to celebrate.
One weird holiday on January 3 is Fruitcake Toss Day. Check out the other weird January holidays!
When did Fruitcake Toss Day first begin?
Fruitcake is a traditional holiday dessert gift that people tend to hate receiving. It’s become a cultural thing to make fun of fruitcakes that are given as gifts.
The earliest known fruitcake recipe from ancient Rome lists pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and raisins that were then mixed with barley. In the Middle Ages, honey, spices, and preserved fruits were added. Fruit cakes soon became popular all over Europe, and in the 1600s began to have sugar added, making them a cheap and sweet gift.
The idea of a holiday where people throw out their leftover fruitcakes from the holidays is kind of a strange one. It’s believed to have first been celebrated in Manitou Springs, Colorado in 1996.
The Great Fruitcake Toss was the brainchild of an events subcommittee from the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce back in 1996. The subcommittee thought locals might be interested in gathering at the park after the holidays to chuck their unwanted fruitcake gifts from the figurative ol’ Aunt Karens. The idea was that those cakes were bound to lay about the house until the holidays came around again— probably to be passed on to another unwanting recipient. So, The Great Fruitcake Toss was born! It’s been an annual sporting event ever since!
Since then, every year, hundreds of people gather in that small town to toss fruitcakes in The Great Fruitcake Toss. They host competitions for distance, accuracy, and even balance! During the competition, fruitcakes are thrown, hurled, catapulted and cannoned into the air using a range of inventive devices. One year, someone even used an exercise-bike-powered cannon!
All of the leftover fruitcakes (provided by the festival, not ones you bring from home) are taken to SunMountain so they can be fed to their pig, Jezebel.
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Ideas for Fruitcake Toss Day
Along with throwing out the rock-hard fruitcake that some gifted you for the holidays, you should celebrate Fruitcake Toss Day by also baking a delicious fruitcake that you’ll actually eat!
Check out our favorite fruitcake purchased on Amazon.
Here is a list of fruitcake recipes for you to enjoy.
Fruitcake Fudge Recipe
Just wait until you whip up a batch of this Holiday Fruitcake Fudge. It’s a simple recipe that packs a huge amount of flavor and taste.
Fruitcake Cookie Bars
Fruitcake Cookie Bars have all of those holiday flavors you love in an easy-to-make cookie bar! This simple recipe comes together quick and is great to make on Fruitcake Toss Day!
Fruitcake Cookies
Even if you don’t like traditional fruitcake these are worth making. They are filled with lots Christmas color, flavor and chewy, yummy texture. A must make for Fruitcake Toss Day!
Fruit Cake 7-Layer Bars
Become a fruit cake lover with these easy fruit cake 7-layer bars. With layers of candied cherries, candied pineapple, golden raisins, almonds, and coconut!
Miniature Christmas Fruitcakes
If you love fruitcake, then you're going to love these Miniature Christmas Fruitcakes. Enjoy traditional fruitcake flavours in a recipe that comes together quickly. This recipe makes a large batch and freezes well for holiday baking trays and to enjoy all year long, not just on Fruitcake Toss Day!
Christmas cake balls
Don't let that fruitcake go to waste on Fruitcake Toss Day! Turn leftover fruitcake into these Christmas cake balls, cake truffles dipped in melted chocolate. Your family will love these, probably more than the cake itself.
Fruitcake Cookies: Chewy, fruity spice cookies
Fruitcake cookies are a delicious, bite-sized take on the traditional holiday dessert. They’re like a chewy, fruity spice cookie! Enjoy them in place of your fruitcake that you just threw out on Fruitcake Toss Day!
Instant Pot Grandma Marie's Fruitcake Recipe
This Instant Pot Fruitcake Recipe is full of delicious nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, and pecans with plenty of dried fruit this is truly a labor of love during the holiday season. Enjoy some this year on Fruitcake Toss Day!
Glazed Fruitcake Shortbread Cookies
These fruitcake shortbread cookies combine butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and flour to make one delicious cookie! The glaze on top softens up the shortbread which creates a delicious flavour and texture. Crisp edges with soft middles, these cookies are perfect for Fruitcake Toss Day!
The best Christmas fruitcake
This white fruitcake recipe is topped with a layer of marzipan and then covered in a brandy frosting. Replace your old fruitcake with this delicious recipe on Fruitcake Toss Day!
Dundee Cake (Scottish fruit cake studded with almonds)
Dundee cake is a typical Scottish cake studded with almonds which hails from the city of Dundee on the east coast of Scotland. It was created by Janet Keiller, famous for Keiller Marmalade. Make it this year for Fruitcake Toss Day!
Rum Glazed Fruit Cake Banana Bread
Everyone will love this banana bread turned fruit cake for the holidays! Complete with a rum glaze drizzle on top.
Fruit Cake – Egg less Loaf Cake
Holiday season means baking a loaf or two of this delicious Fruit Cake. This egg less fruit cake is so moist and flavorful. A perfect recipe to bake to give to friends and family.
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