Description
Homemade fruitcake delight cookies blend classic holiday flavors with modern baking techniques. Sweet dried fruits and warm spices create memorable cookie moments that connect families through delicious shared experiences.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- ¾ cup raisins or chopped dates
- 1 cup candied cherries, coarsely chopped
- 1 cup candied pineapple, coarsely chopped
- ½ cup (113 g / 4 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl oz) buttermilk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp almond extract
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Fruit Preparation: Toss candied cherries, crushed pineapple, raisins or dates, and pecans with a light dusting of flour, ensuring each morsel is evenly coated.
- Butter Mixture: Whip room-temperature butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until the texture becomes airy and pale, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Liquid Integration: Blend egg, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and almond extract into the butter mixture, beating on medium speed until achieving a silky, homogeneous consistency.
- Batter Assembly: Gently fold the flour-dusted fruit and nut mixture into the liquid base, incorporating baking soda and salt. Stir meticulously to distribute ingredients without overworking the dough.
- Oven Preparation: Warm the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cookie Forming: Scoop rounded tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto prepared sheets, positioning each cookie with roughly 2 inches of separation.
- Baking Process: Slide the sheets into the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, monitoring until edges turn golden and centers appear set.
- Cooling Protocol: Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to wire racks for complete cooling before serving or storing.
Notes
- Prevent Fruit Clumping: Dust fruit with flour to prevent sinking and ensure even distribution throughout the cookie dough.
- Mixing Matters: Cream butter and sugar thoroughly to create a light, airy texture that guarantees soft, tender cookies.
- Gentle Folding Technique: Mix fruit and dry ingredients carefully to avoid overmixing, which can result in tough, dense cookies.
- Cooling is Crucial: Allow cookies to rest on the baking sheet briefly before transferring to wire racks to maintain their delicate structure and prevent breaking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 22
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg