You truly get a head start on the holidays when baking fruitcakes is in the plan. Make fruitcakes up to a month ahead of time. They freeze well, too. Collect the ingredients you'll need. Candied fruit is usually available seasonally in most supermarkets.
Candied citron has a distinctive tart citrus flavor.
Line loaf pans with aluminum foil, then grease with shortening. Or line with cooking parchment paper. These cakes lend themselves to specialty baking pans you'll find in houseware departments, gourmet shops and catalogs. Or use muffin cups or miniature loaf pans. Because fruitcakes are dense, they bake longer and at lower temperatures than other cakes.