Here’s a recipe for Chewy Fruitcake Cookies! These cookies offer a festive twist on traditional fruitcake, with their chewy texture and bursts of dried fruit and nuts. Perfect for the holiday season or as a treat any time of year, these cookies will delight fruitcake fans and skeptics alike.
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- 1 cup dried cherries, chopped
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup dried apricots, chopped
- 1 cup candied orange peel or mixed candied fruit
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream the Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then add the molasses and vanilla extract, and mix until smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in Fruits and Nuts: Gently fold in the chopped nuts, dried fruits, and candied peel.
- Shape the Cookies: Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers look slightly underbaked (they will firm up as they cool).
- Cool and Serve: Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Enjoy these chewy fruitcake cookies with a hot cup of tea or coffee for the perfect holiday treat!
