https://www.amummytoo.co.uk/tropical-fruit-christmas-cake-recipe Home cooks knew the value of preservation, and drying fruits concentrated the flavors and sugar and could be used during the year. Fresh fruit was usually only available in season, and exotic tropical fruits were a rarity. During the holidays that meant fruitcake. Family cookbooks are an important way to … Tropical Fruitcake Confection recipe by Barbara Jackson, is from The Jackson Family Cookbook, one of the cookbooks created at FamilyCookbookProject.com.