Start Those Eastern European Fruitcakes Now

The much-maligned fruitcake is actually adored by many. Now is the time to start them for gift giving or for your own consumption. They will be at their boozy best by Christmas. Adding liquor is completely optional. In all but the Russian cake (which uses white wine), the others are made with vodka, or light or dark rum. But it can be left out. If you don't use the booze, either freeze the baked cake or hold off making it until closer to Christmas.

The moist, light crumb in these recipes has just the right spices to make them a good candidate for your edible gifts list.

• Polish Fruitcake Recipe - Cwibak or Chleb Wigilijny
  
  
• Lithuanian Fruit Bread Recipe - Vaisiu Pyragas
  
  
• Ukrainian Fruit and Nut Strudel Recipe - Fruktovykh ta Horikhovykh Shtrudel
  
  
• Lithuanian Gypsy Pie Recipe - Velyku Pyragas Cigonas
  
  
• Russian Christmas Bread Recipe - Krendel

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