Description
Festive fruitcake cookies bring holiday cheer with their rich blend of dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices. Delightful morsels packed with traditional flavors will make your celebration special and keep guests coming back for more.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits and Nuts:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) raisins
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) candied cherries (red and green), coarsely chopped
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) candied pineapple, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) Brazil nuts, coarsely chopped
Cookie Base Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups (300 milliliters) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup (180 milliliters) white sugar
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) golden Crisco shortening
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Instructions
- Macerate the dried and candied fruits along with Brazil nuts in a spacious mixing vessel, allowing the ingredients to mingle and soften, releasing their vibrant flavors and aromas.
- Utilize an electric mixer to thoroughly blend shortening and sugar until the mixture transforms into a light, airy cream with a silky texture, then incorporate the egg and both vanilla and almond extracts, whipping until completely homogeneous.
- Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl, ensuring a uniform and lump-free dry ingredient base for the cookie dough.
- Gradually introduce the dry ingredient mixture into the creamy wet ingredients, stirring gently to create a cohesive dough, then tenderly fold in the prepared fruit and nut medley, distributing them evenly throughout the mixture.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper, creating a non-stick surface for cookie preparation.
- Portion the dough using a tablespoon, creating rounded mounds and positioning them approximately two inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
- Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, watching for a golden-brown perimeter that signals perfect doneness, then allow them to rest on the baking sheet for a brief 5-minute cooling period.
- Transfer the cookies to a wire cooling rack, permitting them to reach room temperature, then store in an airtight container where they will remain fresh for up to one week, or freeze for extended preservation.
Notes
- Soak dried fruits beforehand in brandy or orange juice to enhance their moisture and add depth of flavor.
- Chop fruits and nuts uniformly to ensure consistent texture and even distribution throughout the cookie dough.
- Reduce sugar content by substituting some with honey or using less candied fruits for a healthier alternative.
- Gluten-free option works perfectly by replacing wheat flour with almond or coconut flour for those with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 36
- Calories: 165
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg