CORSICANA, Texas — In a holiday full of classic confections — candy canes, gingerbread and sugarplums — there's one that's showing up less often: fruitcake.
The treat's been on fewer and fewer dessert tables in recent decades. That may be thanks in part to Johnny Carson's declaration years ago: “The worst gift is a fruitcake. There is only one fruitcake in the entire world, and people keep sending it to each other.”
But fruitcake has been at historic events for centuries, including Princess Diana and King Charles’ wedding and a trip to the moon on Apollo 11.
Today, more than 2 million fruitcakes are sold in the United States each year, with 20,000 a day coming from one small town in Texas. The bakery has its home in Corsicana, a town about 50 miles south of Dallas.
Collin Street Bakery has been in the fruitcake business for over 125 years. “I promise you this. If every American had Collin Street Bakery’s fruitcake at Christmas, then today every household would have a fruitcake still at Christmas, because ours is very different,” said Thomas McNutt.
McNutt, a third-generation owner at the bakery, said that quality ingredients make all the difference.
Each Collin Street fruitcake features Texas pecans, pineapple, raisins and cherries blended into a batter, hand-decorated and baked.
“Some people will attempt to bake a product just for the season, really, with no eye to quality … You can taste a $2 wine or $2,000 wine, and there’s a big difference from the bottom and the top, and it’s the same way in the world of fruitcake,” said Bob McNutt, another family owner.
The bakery has delivered fruitcakes to celebrities, politicians and even made a cameo in the 1972 classic film “The Godfather.” Collin Street is so confident in its confection that it even offers a money-back guarantee.
For customers like Bill Baxter, it’s all about the nostalgia. “It brings back memories of what used to be,” he said. “It’s comfort.”
The McNutts say sharing those traditions across generations is part of their mission.
“Everyone from grandma and grandpa to the grandkids, a lot of people like to sit down and love to taste fruitcake at Christmas,” said Bob McNutt.
“We think that there’s a new kind of a refound appreciation of tradition, of family, of gathering and celebrating," Thomas McNutt said. “So fruitcake just fits perfectly in that.”
