Fruitcake: I seriously love the stuff. As such, I steadfastly ignore all those cruel anti-fruitcake jokes. I'll grudgingly admit, though, your typical fruitcake is a bit much for most average-sized families to handle ... especially on top of all the other heavy holiday fare likely crowding your plate and pantry at this time of year.

If you bake or are gifted fruitcake this holiday season, don't let it go to waste! Read on for 7 appetizing ways to use up leftover cake before it dries out.

1. Almond fruitcake rum balls. This sounds luscious! Definitely keeping this one for future reference.

2. Chocolate covered fruitcake balls. After all, what isn't improved by the addition of chocolate?

3. Fruitcake trifle. Think you hate fruitcake? Douse it in liquor and a layer of cream and custard ... and think again!

4. Decadent frozen dessert. Fold crumbled cake into softened ice cream and refreeze. Sounds delicious, yes?

5. Cherry refrigerator pudding. From a 1942 newspaper article, no less! Naturally, the Greatest Generation didn't let good cake go to waste.

6. Fruitcake slice with lemon icing. Love the idea of lemon icing, but be warned this idea does require a bunch of additional ingredients.

7. Cream cheese bread pudding. Holy moly, this one sounds sinfully delicious ... and to heck with the calories.

Short on time, energy or appetite? I've read fruitcake freezes well if it's securely wrapped. That way those leftovers will be ready for your culinary experiments in the New Year!