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Fruitcake Cookies

1 cup sugar

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

½ teaspoon ground cloves

½ teaspoon ground allspice

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 egg

Zest of 1 orange

¼ cup orange juice

1¾ cups all-purpose flour

¾ cup candied peel

¾ cup chopped dates

¾ cup candied cherries

¾ cup chopped dried apricots

¾ cup chopped toasted pecans

Colored sugars, if desired

Heat the oven to 350 dgrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the sugar, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, salt and baking soda. Beat until light and fluffy.

Add the egg and orange zest, then beat to combine. Add the orange juice and half of the flour, then mix, scraping down the bowl as needed to ensure even mixing. Add the remaining flour and mix to thoroughly incorporate. Stir in the candied peel, dates, cherries, apricots and pecans.

Working in batches, drop the dough by the tablespoon onto the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with colored sugars, if desired. Bake 12-15 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Makes about 40 cookies.

@Recipe nutrition:Nutrition values per serving: 100 calories, 4 g fat (2 g saturated), 15 g carbohydrates 1 g fiber, 1 g protein, 10 mg cholesterol, 45 mg sodium.

Alison Ladman for the Associated Press

Studded with all manner of dried and candied fruit (you can easily substitute your favorites), these cookies are a chewy, spicy delight that’ll be sure to make a fruitcake lover out of even the skeptics. Associated Press
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