For the Love of Fruitcake!

With fruitcake considered an essential at Christmas for centuries, I thought it would be fun to revisit Deb Lee of Middlebury, Indiana because she’s one gal who has elevated this specialty dessert to a new millennium level.

Contacting her a short while ago to get an update on her fruitcake business, Deb informed me that since we last met (several years ago) she had changed her business model and was now offering her artisan specialty fruitcakes online through a website.

Getting into the fruitcake business, because it bothered her that people made fun of them, Deb’s desire to change people’s mind about them created such a large following that it grew into its own business.

“I wondered why people didn’t like fruitcake,” she said, smiling, “so I made a much better tasting fruitcake!”

Selling out at a small craft bazaar in just 45 minutes, word-ofmouth created a demand that could only be met by the installation of a commercial kitchen.

“The business grew so much that it needed a place of its own,” Deb said smiling, which is how the Next Door Neighbor Deli & Bakery in Middlebury, Indiana came into existence. However, the covid crisis helped her make the decision to close the deli and bakery, and scale her operation down to focusing entirely on making fruitcakes from her commercial kitchen.

“We happily accept orders online or by phone,” she said, and we welcome customers to visit by appointment only.”

While her fruitcake business has seen its share of changes, the one thing that hasn’t changed is her delightful fruitcake selections. Not soaking her fruitcakes in any liquids or liquor, she said she does this to provide flexibility for her customers.

“I let the customer decide,” she said with a grin. “They can soak them if they like in anything they like!”

Offering her own signature assortment of flavors including Traditional, Blue Ribbon, Tropical, and Chocolate. Coming in both 1/2 -pound and 2 pound sizes, baked fresh and reasonably-priced, this is a unique and delicious holiday gift that is perfect for all the fruitcake lovers in your life.

To find out more, check out fruitcakesbydeb.com or give her a call at: (574) 825-1716.

Here now is a fun way to play with the flavor of a fruitcake. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Laura Kurella is an award-winning recipe developer, food columnist, and author of the new culinary memoir, MIDWEST MORSEL, which celebrates all the classic and favored flavors in the Great Lakes Midwest. She welcomes your comments at laurakurella@ yahoo.com.