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It seems like every family has its own fruitcake cookies recipes. Fruitcake cookies are a delicious traditional holiday treat that has a long and storied history.
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What is a Fruitcake Cookie?
Fruitcake cookies recipes vary greatly depending on the baker. Typically they are a type of soft cookie that is made with dried fruit, nuts, and spices. This type of cookie is often referred to as a "drop cookie".
What is a drop cookie?
“Drop cookie” isa term applied to cookie recipes where bakers “drop” cookie dough from a spoon or cookie scoop onto a baking sheet, rather than roll it out or cut it into specific shapes. Cookies like Oatmeal Raisin and Chocolate Chip are classic drop cookie recipes.
What are the origins of Fruitcake Cookies?
The origins of fruitcake cookies can be traced back to the origins of fruitcake itself in ancient Rome, where fruit and nuts were often mixed into bread and cakes as a way to preserve them for long periods of time. Over the centuries, fruitcake recipes have evolved and adapted to different cultural influences, resulting in a wide variety of fruitcake variations found around the world.
Want to learn more about Fruitcake?
Last year I set out on a mission, to embrace my inner fruitcake fan and to develop the BEST gluten-free fruitcake recipe on the internet. You can click here to check out those recipes!
In the United States, fruitcake cookies are a popular holiday treat, especially during the Christmas season. They are often served as part of a dessert spread or given as gifts to friends and family.
What are the origins of this Fruitcake Cookie recipe?
I actually first learned of Fruitcake Cookies, from my biological grandfather. You see, I didn't meet my birth family until I was almost 40 years old which means he and I had a lot of catching up to do!
I was hungry for knowledge about my roots and he was fully locked and loaded with a lifetime full of stories. And since he was the cook of the family he had quite a few recipes to share with me, including Fruitcake Cookies!
If you are interested in checking out more of the recipes my grandfather passed onto me you can click here for his recipe for Orange Juice Cake, it is phenomenal!
What do Fruitcake Cookies taste like?
Fruitcake cookies have a dense and chewy texture and are bursting with the flavors of dried fruit and nuts. Common ingredients in fruitcake cookies include California prunes, raisins, candied citrus peel, and nuts such as almonds, walnuts, and pecans. Some recipes also include spices like cinnamon and nutmeg for added flavor.
Dried fruit, like California prunes, are a key ingredient in fruitcake cookies and can add a wealth of nutritional value. California prunes, in particular, are a good source of fiber and contain important nutrients like potassium and vitamin K. Prunes are great for bone health, gut health, heart health, and your tastebuds!
How to prepare the boozy fruit for baking Fruitcake cookies.
While some Fruitcake cookie recipes will have you soaking dried fruit in rum or brandy for a significant period of time, this recipe for Fruitcake cookies actually uses the leftover boozy dried fruit from making our Fruitcake Infused Liquor for the holidays.
If you haven't prepared the boozy fruit mixture in advance, no worries you can still make these cookies. I have a solution for you in the notes section of the recipe card below.
If you are using our boozy dried fruit mixture, it goes without saying that the dried fruit will have absorbed a good amount of liquid at this point and we don't want soggy cookies, so draining the fruitcake fruit is essential before baking.
It is also important because, in some cases, alcohol like rum can impart a slightly bitter flavor to baked goods if too much alcohol is present.
How to strain the boozy dried fruit mixture.
The first step of this recipe will read, 'strain ½ cup boozy dried fruit fruitcake blend.'
Don't skip this step and do it first so it has adequate time to release the alcohol that has accumulated in and around all of the dried fruit.
The alcohol that strains out can be used in a or returned to the container with the rest of the alcohol for a later date.
More delicious fruitcake-inspired cookie recipes to try next!
If you're looking for a delicious and festive holiday treat, give some of these fruitcake cookies recipes a try! There are many different fruitcake cookie recipes to choose from, so you're sure to find one that fits your taste preferences. Whether you're a fan of traditional fruitcake or prefer a more modern twist on the classic recipe, there's a fruitcake cookie out there for everyone.
Sugarplum Shortbread Cookies
Out of all of our cookie recipes for the holiday season, this Sugar Plum Shortbread Cookie recipe is a tried and true classic! This cookie recipe is laced with the same types of dried fruit that are called for in our fruitcake cookie recipes - so if you love those, you will be a fan of these too!
Read more
Oatmeal Breakfast Cookie
With whole grain oatmeal, four types of dried fruit includingCalifornia prunes, two types of nuts, and one hearty seed rounding out the ingredient list, these cookies I created for California Grown are actually a better breakfast choice than your sugar-laced bowl of cereal.
Ina Garten's Fruitcake Cookies
Y'all I love some Ina Garten and her recipes are always so good! I love these slice-and-bake style Fruitcake Cookies she created for the Food Network. They are just colorful and stunning!
The Best Gluten-Free Oatmeal Date Cookies
I know what you are thinking - how are these fruitcake cookies inspired? Well, for one this drop cookie is literally exploding with dried fruit - it's all dates but maybe you're a one-note type of fruitcake cookie eater and this is the recipe for you!
Buttery, brown sugar-laced oatmeal cookies that are studded with chewy dates, vanilla beans, and cinnamon?! Yes, please!
Read more
If you’ve given any of these Fruitcake Cookie recipes a try I would be so grateful if you wouldrate the recipe with a star ratingand let me know what you think in the comments below!
I just love hearing from you! Yourreviews and comments really help others that visit This Mess is Ours.
Fruitcake Cookies
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Each family's fruitcake cookie recipes are different, ours has boozy rum-infused dried fruit, nuts, and spices.
- Author: This Mess is Ours
- Prep Time: 25
- Cook Time: 12
- Total Time: 37 minutes
- Yield: 2 dozen 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
½ cupboozy dried fruit fruitcake blend, drained well. If not using our premade-soaked fruit see the note section below.
coconut or olive oil for greasing the baking sheet.
½cupbuttersoftened
⅔cupdark brown sugartightly packed
½teaspoonbaking powder
¼teaspoonbaking soda
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼teaspooncoarse kosher salt
2eggs
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1cupgluten-free all-purpose flouror whole wheat flour
1cuprolled oats
¼cupslivered almonds
¼cupfinely diced, pecans
¼cuppumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
Instructions
Strain the½ cup boozy dried fruit fruitcake blendby placing it in a mesh strainer over a measuring cup or bowl. Set aside and allow to drain while you make the cookie dough.
Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a baking sheet. Set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.
Add the brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Beat on medium speed until combined.
Add the eggs and vanilla. Mix until incorporated.
In 2 additions add the flour mixture on medium-low speed until just incorporated.
Add the oats to the mixing bowl and mix on low until just incorporated.
Add the drainedboozy dried fruit fruitcake blend, nuts, and seeds to the mixing bowl and mix on low until the fruit and nuts are spread throughout the cookie dough.
Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons full onto the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for 12-14 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
Allow the cookies to stand on the baking sheet for a few minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
These cookies are best enjoyed the day they are baked but will keep tightly covered at room temperature for up to 4 days.
Notes
If not using theboozy dried fruit fruitcake blend you will need to soak dried fruit for a bit in alcohol. Here is what you do:
2 tablespoons diced California prunes
2 tablespoons raisins
2 tablespoons diced apricots
2 tablespoons dried cranberries
White or spiced rum, bourbon, or brandy to cover the fruit.
Combine all of the dried fruit in a small bowl and cover it completely with the alcohol of your choice.
Allow the fruit to absorb the liquid for a few hours at least preferably overnight. Strain and use as directed in the recipe.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 cookies
- Calories: 272
- Sugar: 11 g
- Sodium: 125.6 mg
- Fat: 14.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 32.4 g
- Protein: 4.6 g
- Cholesterol: 51.3 mg
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