Help - my fruit cakes are too crumbly!

[runner2]

I regularly make fruit cakes which taste great but are impossible to slice because they crumble as soon as I cut into them! Have tried a couple of different recipes but it happens every time - please tell me what I'm doing wrong...

Do you pre soak the fruit it could be the fruit is drying out the cake

No I don't - the recipes I've tried don't say to. I'm wondering if it might be the size of the eggs - I usually use medium when perhaps large would work better? Or should I try just adding another egg to the mix?

I tend to use recipes that pre soak the fruit and crumbiness is not a problem - perhaps try one. This Gardian one is good, we don't have whisky in the house but soaking in tea or brandy works fine.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2011/nov/17/how-cook-perfect-christmas-cake

Hugh FS has a good one in his river cottage light and easy cookbook where the fruit is soaked in cider or apple juice. No butter either so slightly healthier.

PolterGoose when you posted I'd just baked the Be-Ro fruit cake recipe on p47 (rubbed-in method)!! It turned out better than other recipes but next time I will give the one you recommended a try (hadn't noticed that one before!)