Description
Fruitcake cookies blend classic holiday nostalgia with modern baking charm, creating irresistible bite-sized delights packed with festive flavors. Bursting with dried fruits, warm spices, and rich texture, these cookies invite sweet memories and joyful celebrations you’ll treasure with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup (230 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ¼ cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (200 grams) brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar
Fruit and Nut Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups (240 grams) mixed candied fruits (cherries, pineapple, etc.), chopped
- 1 cup (120 grams) chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or a mix)
- ½ cup (80 grams) raisins or dried cranberries
Spice and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the baking environment by heating the oven to 350F (175C) and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper for optimal cookie placement.
- Create a creamy base by vigorously blending softened butter with brown and granulated sugars until the mixture becomes airy and pale, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Enhance the mixture by incorporating eggs individually, ensuring thorough integration after each addition, then introduce vanilla extract for depth of flavor.
- Craft the dry foundation by whisking flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a separate bowl, creating a balanced spice blend.
- Merge wet and dry ingredients gently, stirring until just combined to maintain a tender texture, then carefully fold in candied fruits, chopped nuts, and raisins for complex flavor and texture.
- Form uniform cookie portions by scooping two-tablespoon-sized rounds, strategically spacing them on prepared sheets to allow proper spreading during baking.
- Bake for 12-14 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges while maintaining soft centers, indicating perfect doneness.
- Implement a two-stage cooling process: rest cookies on baking sheets for five minutes to set, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling, ensuring optimal texture and ease of handling.
Notes
- Swap candied fruits with fresh, diced seasonal fruits for a lighter, more vibrant flavor profile that feels more modern and fresh.
- Replace some nuts with toasted coconut flakes to add unexpected crunch and tropical sweetness, creating more textural complexity.
- For gluten-sensitive individuals, substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend, ensuring the cookies maintain their chewy texture and rich taste.
- Reduce sugar content by using monk fruit sweetener or stevia blends, making the cookies more diabetes-friendly without compromising deliciousness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 30mg