Old-fashioned Fruitcake Cookies
Old-Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies offer a delightful twist on traditional fruitcake, combining the best of both worlds in a cookie form. These cookies are packed with dried fruits, nuts, and warm spices, making them perfect for the holiday season or any festive gathering.
Equipment
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 electric mixer or whisk
- 1 baking sheet
- 1 parchment paper
- 1 cookie scoop or tablespoon
- 1 cooling rack
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup mixed dried fruits, chopped Such as raisins, cranberries, and cherries
- 1 cup mixed nuts, chopped Such as walnuts and pecans
- ½ cup candied fruit, chopped
- ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in the dried fruits, mixed nuts, candied fruit, and chocolate chips (if using) until evenly distributed.
- Using a cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop rounded portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. The centers may look slightly soft but will firm up as they cool.
- Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Notes
These cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week, maintaining their freshness.
For a richer flavor, consider adding a splash of rum or bourbon to the dough.
You can customize the mix of dried fruits and nuts based on your preferences or what you have available.