Fruitcake Cookies

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This fruitcake cookie recipe is a new take on the much maligned holiday Fruit Cake. These fruit cookies are a delicious little bites will make you rethink how you feel about this controversial dessert.

Fruitcake Cookies with a glass of milk.

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The fruitcake cookie recipe will be devoured by your family. Unlike years past, these fruitcake cookies, will not be forgotten or left behind. It is a tradition, in many people’s families to re-gift the same fruit cake over and over as some kind of running joke. However, this year the joke is on them!

Looking for more fun and unique holiday recipes? Check out this guide.


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What We Love About This Recipe

A fruit cookie is so flavorful without being over the top sweet. It is the perfect little bite of cookie and candied fruit. Never too heavy and always has taste irresistible. Believe it or not there is a family who has passed a fruitcake down in their family for over 150 years. There is a long and very interesting history to fruitcake. Find out more here.

  • 10 Minute Prep: This cookie dough comes together really quick.
  • Easy Ingredients: All found in pantry or fridge.
  • Family Friendly: Truly, your family will love these chewy cookies
  • Adaptable: Can make it with so many candied fruits and different additions.
Fruitcake Cookies on a cooling rack and platter.

Ingredient Notes

  • Butter: Use a salted or unsalted butter for the cookies. Room temperature ingredients make this fruitcake cookie recipe so easy to blend.
  • Brown Sugar: Make sure that it is packed into the measuring cup.
  • Egg: Large egg at room temperature.
  • Fruitcake mix: Includes orange and lemon peels (adds vitamin C), green and red candied cherries, and pineapple.
Ingredients to make the cookies.

Variations and Substitutions

  • Sugar Substitute – A one for one switch can be used for the brown sugar and the white sugar
  • Candied Fruit – There are a lot of variations, find a blend that you like best.

How to Make this Simple Fruit Cake Recipe

These are the basic steps for making these Fruitcake Cookies. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions and nutrition information. Find more recipes on Instagram or Facebook at It is a Keeper.

Making the dough for the cookies.

STEP 1: PREP

Preheat the oven and line baking sheet with parchment paper. Then in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or with a hand electric mixer in a large bowl, mix together the brown sugar, white sugar and butterat medium speed until light and fluffy. Meanwhile, in another mixing bowl whisk the dry ingredients of all purpose flour, salt baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.

STEP 2: BLEND

Once the sugar is incorporated, add in the flour mixture and spice mixture, egg, and vanilla together. Next fold in the fruit cake mix. Then using a cookie scoop, place cookie doe about 1-inch apart on the cookie sheet.

STEP 3: BAKE

Next, bake in the oven for about 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Once the time is done, allow the cookies to cool a tad before transferring to a cooling wire rack

Rolling out the cookies and placing on a baking tray.

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE AHEAD OF TIME

Make the cookie dough ahead of time and keep in the fridge in an airtight container or wrapped well in plastic wrap for up to twenty four hours.

HOW TO STORE THIS RECIPE

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.

HOW TO FREEZE THIS RECIPE

Freeze wrapped well or in an airtight container for up to three months.

Frequently Asked Questions

HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE HEALTHIER?

Use a sugar free candied fruit or candied fruit that has not been dyed.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE DIFFERENT FRUITS?

If you do not like green cherries, try adding mixes with raisins, cranberries, apricots etc,..

CAN THIS RECIPE BE DOUBLED OR HALVED?

Of course, you can adjust the recipe card below to make the amount of cookies that you need.

HOW TO BAKE THE BEST COOKIES?

If you want tips and tricks to make the best cookies, check out Cookie Recipes and Baking Tips.

Close up on the fruitcake cookies.

Expert Tips for Making This Recipe

  • Add Nuts: Stir in pecans, walnuts or almonds.
  • Candied Fruit: Where do you find it.? Usually in the baking aisle of the grocery store but are sometimes in the produce section of the store.
  • Liquor: Feel free to add a tablespoon or two of flavoring such as brandy, rum or whiskey.
  • Alternate ingredient: Add white chocolate chips to add even more goodness.
  • Drizzle: Drizzle with a glaze or melted chocolate.

Did you try this recipe?
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Fruitcake Cookies with a glass of milk.
5 from 3 votes

Fruitcake Cookies

Yield: 12 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Total: 22 minutes
This Fruitcake cookie Recipe is a new take on the much maligned holiday Fruit Cake. These fruit cookies are a delicious little bites will make you rethink how you feel about this controversial dessert.
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⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️Did you try this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!

Ingredients

  • 1 ⅓ cups flour
  • ½ cup butter, 1 stick, room temperature)
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 egg egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon · nutmeg
  • 1 ½ cups · chopped Fruitcake mix, includes orange and lemon peels, green and red cherries, and pineapple.

Instructions

  • In a bowl, mix together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg,
  • In a larger bowl, first mix together the brown sugar, white sugar, and butter using a mixer. Once those are well incorporated, add in the flour and spice mixture, egg, and vanilla together.
  • Once incorporated, fold in the fruitcake mix.
  • With the oven pre-heated at 350 degrees, drop each cookie into about 1-inch balls using a small cookie scooper on a greased cookie sheet.
  • Bake in the oven for about 10-12 minutes until golden brown.
  • Once the time is done, allow the cookies to cool a tad before transferring to a cooling rack

Expert Tips

 
  • Add Nuts: Stir in pecans, walnuts or almonds.
  • Candied Fruit: Where do you find it.? Usually in the baking aisle of the grocery store but are sometimes in the produce section of the store.
  • Liquor: Feel free to add a tablespoon or two of flavoring such as brandy, rum or whiskey.
  • Alternate ingredient: Add white chocolate chips to add even more goodness.
  • Drizzle: Drizzle with a glaze or melted chocolate.

Estimated Nutritional Information

Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 96mg | Sodium: 249mg | Potassium: 89mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 346IU | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg
The nutritional information provided are estimates. To learn more about how I calculate this information go to www.itisakeeper.com/about-its-a-keeper/privacy-disclosure-policies/
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

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