Missouri monks’ fruitcakes support solitary living

Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 | 6 p.m.

AVA, Mo. — Once the bane of pot-luck parties, the fruitcake has been turned into a sought-after treat by Trappist monks secluded in the Missouri Ozarks who some say bake cake that's nothing short of heavenly. Between February and mid-December, monks at the Assumption Abbey in Ava, Mo., produce about 25,000 fruitcakes. The monks have gained a national reputation for carefully controlling the production. They marinate the fruit, age the cakes and even package and ship the product from their foothills monastery. Before each two-pound cake leaves the abbey, it gets a special prayer from the monks aimed at all ...

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Discussion: 2 comments so far…

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By bghs1986 (Bghs Nineteeneightysix)

Dec. 18, 2012

7:16 p.m.

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"Between February and mid-December, monks at the Assumption Abbey in Ava, Mo., produce about 25,000 fruitcakes."

That's nothing compared to the number of fruitcakes produced by the tea party.
By peacelily

Dec. 18, 2012

9:38 p.m.

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I have to put in a plug for my favorites by the Camaldolese Hermits in Big Sur. I love both the brandy dipped fruitcake and datenut cake. Yum Yum!

http://www.hermitagebigsur.com/fruitcake...