Handwritten recipe card for Fruit Cocktail Cake
by: salvagedrecipes

Old-Fashioned Fruit Cocktail Cake

Fruit Cocktail Cake
Fruit Cocktail Cake is a nostalgic American dessert that gained popularity in the mid-20th century. It’s known for its simplicity, using canned fruit cocktail as the base—and its moist, tender crumb with a crunchy sweet topping. This version is baked in a square pan and features a blend of pantry staples like flour, sugar, soda, and egg, moistened with syrupy canned fruit. The final touch is a brown sugar and nut topping that caramelizes during baking, offering a satisfying contrast in textures. It’s perfect served warm or at room temperature, often without frosting.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 9
Calories 305 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 egg
  • pinch salt
  • 15 oz fruit cocktail (drained, reserve 2 tbsp juice)
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup nuts (chopped, e.g., walnuts or pecans)

Instructions
 

Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients

  • Sift together flour, sugar, and baking soda in a large bowl.

Step 2: Add Wet Ingredients

  • Add egg, pinch of salt, and drained fruit cocktail.
  • Stir until well combined.

Step 3: Prepare Topping

  • In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and chopped nuts.

Step 4: Assemble

  • Pour batter into a greased 9×9-inch baking pan.
  • Sprinkle brown sugar and nut topping evenly over batter.

Step 5: Bake

  • Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Tips

  • Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
  • Sprinkle chopped nuts on top before baking for added crunch
  • Use brown sugar exclusively for a deeper molasses flavor
  • Add cinnamon or nutmeg for a spiced version
  • Substitute fruit cocktail with crushed pineapple (undrained)
  • Dust with powdered sugar instead of serving plain
  • Cut into squares for potlucks or bake sales
  • Double the recipe and bake in a 9×13 pan
  • Drizzle with a light vanilla glaze after cooling

Nutrition

Calories: 305kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 23mgSodium: 170mgPotassium: 120mgFiber: 1gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 90IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 1mg
Keyword fruit cocktail, nostalgic food, pantry cake, potluck dessert, retro dessert, simple cake, vintage baking
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