Hi Elaine, as you mentioned, using candied fruit does help extend the shelf life of fruit cake. But if candied fruit isn't something that pleases your palate, feel free to leave it out or use dried fruit in its place. This just means that you'll need to enjoy the cake within a slightly shorter time frame (one to two weeks), or freeze your cakes for longer storage. Brushing with simple syrup will help the cake stay soft and fresh, so definitely include that step. Happy baking! Kye@KAF

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