Although Dave Barry is convinced there's only one fruitcake, and it gets passed on to someone else each year, I make some each year from a very easy recipe I got when I was living in Norway during my madcap college years, posted below.
The last time I made it, it occurred to me it's a lot like the Logan bread I make for snacking on instead of buying energy bars. Lots of fruit and nuts. I've taken a slab of the fruitcake on the last several snowshoe trips, and it was pleasantly satisfying. So if you ended up with the fruitcake this year, try actually eating it on the trail for a great energy boost.
This recipe is quick (less than 48 ingredients!), easy (no chopping!), and makes 2 loaves packed with fruit and nuts and only 1/2 C of flour per loaf.
Easy Fruitcake
Combine in the order given:
1 C flour
3/4 C sugar
1 ts baking powder
3 eggs
1 ts vanilla
1 pound pitted dates
8 oz container candied cherries
1 pound walnuts or pecans
Press firmly into 2 oiled 8X5 bread pans. If you line the bottoms of the pans with waxed paper the loaves come out easier. Bake at 300 F for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Let cool in pans, then turn out and wrap in foil. No waiting! Eat any time!

