ASSUMPTION ABBEY FRUIT CAKE baking begins for 2011

PRAYER FRATERNITY HELPS IN FRUIT CAKE BUSINESS

 

 

This week of February 1st signals the start of the fruit cake enterprise at Assumption Abbey starting in earnest for the 2011 year.   For probably close to 20 years now, the Trappist monks at Assumption Abbey here in Ava, MO have been supporting themselves with a very successful fruitcake business.

 

Each year the monks set a target of roughly 25,000 cakes to be made and sold for the year.  To achieve that goal, from now till mid-December, roughly 45 weeks, the monks bake, decorate, box and store 125 cakes a day, 5 days a week.   Each cake is 2 lbs, made of traditional fruitcake ingredients, each injected with about an ounce of rum, glazed and decorated with pecans and cherries, wrapped and sealed in clingwrap, and then stored in tins for 2 months before they are ready to be sold.

 

In the picture above, you see Fr. Alberic,  who is one of the two bakers.   He is taking finished cakes out of the oven, which bakes all 125 at the same time.  

 

For most of the past year, one of the Franciscans here at the Prayer Fraternity has assisted each morning in the decorating phase of the business.   It gives help to the monks and also helps us in the support of our House of Prayer.

 

Cakes can be purchased on-line from the Abbey by going to their website at www.AssumptionAbbey.com and accessing the section where they talk about their fruitcake business.   It's also possible to order a cake over the phone by calling 417 - 683 - 5110.    They are really good; honest!