Old Fashion Claxton Fruit Cake - 5-1 Lb. Dark Recipe - Each Cake Individually Wrapped For Freshness in our Signature Claxton Carton

Fruitcake is like potato salad. ("Say Wha-a-a?") I mean, there are a dozen-plus versions of portato salad (one even favors vinegar!), but most of us prefer the one we first came to know as kids. Claxton’s tastes just like the delicious fruitcakes my mother made when I was a child.Subjective or not, here's what makes Claxton fruitcakes so dang good:(1) Cake-to-fruit ratio. It's about 50/50, although the fruit may win by a skosh. That, IMHO, is the tastiest ratio. (Your mileage may vary)(2) The fruit tastes GOOD. Frequently, candied fruit has a chemical taste, especially candied cherries. But I’ve never detected that in a Claxton.(3) Low Rent. We know a person can buy cans of inexpensive mixed nuts--but invariably, 50%-or-more of the can will be “lowly peanuts.” Similarly, "cheap fruitcake" often goes heavy on raisins throughout the cake, with showy colored fruit only along the top surface. NOT so with Claxton. In addition to the fruit, it contains a satisfying quotient of quality chopped nuts.(4) Speaking of which, as an avid baker myself, I’m intrigued that Claxton can place chopped nuts in its batter, yet they're not the least soggy. I suspect they go that extra mile, and toast the nut pieces BEFORE adding them to the batter. As my mother used to say: “Class will always out.”(5) Shrewd Configuration. A lot of fruitcakes are big, shaped like a door wreath or an aspiring cinder block. The problem with either is that within 2-4 days, when half that cake is still uneaten, the remaining portion ceases tasting fresh--too much surface area. Alternatively, no matter how many pounds of Claxton fruitcake you buy, each pound is a separately sealed "stick", like an elongated cube of butter. So, that shape means only the small end of the stick is open to the air (if you fail to wrap it after opening it). Meanwhile, each 1-lb. stick is so well sealed, that it will be delightfully fresh when you open it – even weeks after receiving it. (I store any unopened "sticks" in the refrigerator for a month or more, with no subsequent regrets.)(6) Dark Cake Version. I’m of the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" genus. As such, I'm so keen about the "regular cake" version that during the decade-plus I’ve been eating Claxton, I've never strayed from the light, and succumbed to the dark. You’ll have to be your own pioneer regarding this alternative version.Johnny Carson, the late, TONIGHT SHOW host, had a decades-long running gag that there were only six fruitcakes in the U.S. He added "It just seems like more because nobody wants ‘em, and people keep re-gifting those six." Well, I've re-gifted a few other presents in my life, but NEVER a Claxton. Conversely, if you discover the Claxton is NOT to your liking (you probably like that potato salad with vinegar, too, right?), please don’t hesitate re-gifting YOUR Claxton to ME.

I tried Claxton "dark recipe" as an "alternate" fruit cake for my previous go-to, favorite fruitcake of all time (see below). Claxton "dark" is good. There is a very good amount of quality ingredients. It has more raisins than I prefer, but I prefer raisins to dough. It has a good flavor and is pretty moist. I would definitely order again and the multi-loaf price was very good.I could tell from the pictures that it had more raisins than I am used to in my preferred brand. In the pictures, the lighter version looked like it might be more dry. I do not like cake-y, bread-y, dry fruitcake. I tried only the dark version because it looked similar in the pictures to what I like. I may be wrong about the light version as I only purchased the dark recipe. The pictures are a VERY accurate representation of what I received.I was a fan of Texas Manor Fruitcake loaves in this style for decades. They came in the same rectangular loaf that Claxton offers. This is my preferred style of "loaf". I always felt that 1 lb. loaves were more moist and less "bready" than the minis or the round ones from any bakers. I have tried some brands that are awful. Claxton impressed me.My experience with Texas Manor had declined from what I remembered over the previous decades. For a few years, it just seemed like it wasn't as good as it used to be. The last time I ordered Texas Manor, it arrived moldy. That said, the moldy deliver was during the pandemic. Everything, everywhere was messed up for a few years. I may try Texas Manor again as it still has a flavor I prefer. If I can't get Texas Manor, or if they continue to disappoint, I would definitely consider Claxton "dark" a CLOSE second place for my taste.I am very glad to have a another quality "loaf" style fruitcake that is moist and good tasting.

Very dense! Very flavorful! High quality! These are my go to treat! Fantastic Fruit cake!!

Delicious holiday treat. Very moist. High quality. If you love fruitcake, you’ll love this.

I like some around every Christmas. I'm a rare one who actually enjoys a good fruitcake. Nice density and moisture. Lots of nuts and fruit.

If you are a fruitcake fan this is not bad. Brings back memories as this was always around when I was a kid. I think my Grandmother would send it every to us every year.

Always delicious!

Tons of fruit, very tasty perfect flavor.