Fruitcake Bars: Flavorful & Moist Christmas Fruitcake Dessert Recipe! (2024)

Fruitcake bars are a delicious fruit dessert that combines holiday fruitcake mixed peel, dried dates, candied red and green glace cherries, and candied pineapple! They are incredibly easy to make and turn out wonderfully moist every time. Even if you are not a fan of fruitcakes, these tasty bars are bound to change your mind!

Tasty, Festive Fruitcake Dessert Bars

If you need a sweet and easy treat to share with a large group of people during the holiday season, these fruitcake bars are just the thing! They're quick to whip up in one pan and have all of the best fruit flavors added!

First, you'll need to make the cookie dough, then combine it with festive mixed peel, candied pineapple, chopped prunes, and dried cherries. These fruitcake bars will be the hit at every potluck, party, or holiday gathering you take them to!

If baking gets you in the Christmas spirit, check out my holiday baking recipes! There are cookies, my fantastic Christmas cake, fruitcake and more cake ideas, pies, fudge, candy, and so much more to try!

🥘 Ingredients

Most of the ingredients used in this recipe are common baking staples! You may need to make a quick trip to the store to grab some mixed peel and dried fruit.

• Butter - ¾cup ofbutter(softened, at room temperature).
• Light Brown Sugar - 1 ¾cups oflight brown sugar(packed).
• Eggs - 3largeeggs(at room temperature).
• Vanilla Extract - 1tablespoon ofvanilla extract.
• All-Purpose Flour - 1 ½cups ofall-purpose flour.
• Mixed Peel - 1cup ofmixed peel.
• Candied Cherries - 1 cup of red and green glace cherries (quartered or chopped).
• Candied Pineapple - ½cup ofcandied pineapple(chopped).
• Dates - ½cup ofdates (chopped).

*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*

🔪 How To Make Fruitcake Bars

In just 4 easy steps, you will have a delicious fruit dessert that everyone will adore! Take out a large mixing bowl, a 9x13 baking pan, a silicone spatula set, and some measuring utensils to make this recipe.

This homemade fruitcake bar recipe will yield around 96 servings (depending on how big you cut the bars).

1. Prep. Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 baking pan.
2. Mix ingredients. Cream the ¾ cup of butter and 1 ¾ cup of light brown sugar in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the first egg along with the 1 tablespoon vanilla extract and a pinch of salt then mix to combine. Add the remaining two eggs one at a time, mixing well after adding each egg. Then add the 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour and mix thoroughly.
3. Fold. Gently mix in the 1 ½ cups of mixed peel, 1 cup of candied red and green glace cherries, ½ cup of chopped candied pineapple, and ½ cup of chopped dates by folding them into the dough.

Assemble & Bake

1. Spread dough. Spread the mixture evenly into your prepared 9x13 baking pan.
2. Bake. Bake in your preheated oven at 325°F (160°C) for 40-45 minutes or until lightly browned and the dough no longer looks wet.
3. Cool. Once the dough is finished baking, transfer it to a wire cooling rack to cool completely. Slice into squares and serve.

These fruitcake bars are one of my go-to easy dessert bar recipes every year during the holiday season! I hope that you love them just as much as my family does! Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes

• ¾ cup of butter equals 1½ sticks of butter.
• You may use dark brown sugar if you'd like. It will have a deeper molasses flavor and will make the bars darker in appearance.
• If you want to add nuts, you can add up to 2 cups of coarsely chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds for an added crunchy texture.

🥡 Storing

Fruit cake bars can be kept at room temperature for up to 7 days in an airtight container.

Any leftover bars may be individually wrapped in plastic wrap and frozen in a freezer-safe container or Ziploc storage bag for up to 3 months.

>>>>See all of my recipes here<<<<

❓ FAQ

😋 More Delicious Dessert Bar Recipes

• Peppermint Sugar Cookie Bars - This recipe features a soft sugar cookie base with peppermint buttercream and crushed candy canes!
• Christmas Sugar Cookie Bars - These festive dessert bars are always the talk at holiday parties!
• Pumpkin Streusel Bars - If you are a fan of pumpkin flavor, this easy-to-make recipe may be your new favorite!
• Chocolate Pecan Pie Bars - A delicious dessert with a cream cheese pie crust topped with chocolate filling and crunchy pecans!
• Pineapple Pie Bars - A fruity and tropical treat that is perfect for serving at your next potluck, party, or family gathering!
• Apple Cobbler Bars - These cobbler bars are full of warm spices and apple pie filling, topped with a sweet vanilla glaze!

📖 Recipe Card

More Cookies & Bars