These Fruitcake Cookies, make the perfect Christmas Cookie, filled with chopped nuts, candied fruit and chocolate chips together with a subtle Rum flavouring. They make a delicious addition to your Holiday Cookie plate!
Well since today is November first I figured it was ok to start sharing Christmas Cookies! I love making them and eating them. And so does the rest of my family and friends.
Lately whatever sweet recipe I make I hear the Italian saying “you know what would be perfect”? “No what”? “Candied Fruit”. No matter what I make, candied fruit would always make it better!
So I decided I would make my husband happy and make him a cookie with lots of candied fruit. This is actually one of my Mom’s Christmas Cookie Recipes.
But to tell the truth I am not a lover of those tiny sweet things. So I decided to add some nuts and chocolate chips and of course a little Rum flavouring.
Recipe Ingredients
- Sugar – granulated sugar
- Butter – softened
- Egg
- Orange juice
- Rum extract
- Flour
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt – if you use unsalted butter than add a bit more salt.
- Candied fruit – chopped
- Chocolate chips – dark or milk chocolate
- Chopped nuts – hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, cashews or even a mixture.
Types of candied fruit
I am lucky to find a mixture or chopped candied fruit, but if you can’t you can chop your own favorites, such as candied cherries, lemons, dates, pineapple, peaches and orange.
How to make Fruitcake Cookies
In a large bowl beat together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy, then add the egg, orange juice and rum extract. Beat for two minutes.
In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, soda and salt, then stir in candied fruit, chocolate chips and nuts.
Add flour mixture to creamed mixture and stir to combine. Drop by spoonfuls on prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until slightly golden.
Let cool on pan for approximately two minutes then move to a wire rack to cool completely.
Why do cookies spread?
Cookies can spread for a number of reasons, the most common being that the dough has not been chilled, or that you are using a low protein flour. I find a flour with at least 11.5 and up of protein works perfectly. Never use pastry or cake flour for these types of cookies.
You could also chill the dough for about 30 minutes before placing on the prepared baking sheet or while the oven is pre-heating.
Can they be made ahead of time?
Unbaked cookie dough will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge. You could also place the dropped raw dough cookies on the prepared sheets in the fridge, be sure to cover them in plastic wrap. They will also keep for up to 3 days in the fridge.
How to store the cookies
The cookies should be stored in an airtight container and will keep at room temperature for up to 3 days. Or store them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
They can also be frozen in a freezer safe bag or container. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
The unbaked cookie balls can also be frozen for up to 3 months, freeze the balls first on a cookie sheet then move to a freezer safe container. They can be baked without thawing although they will take a bit longer to bake.
They make about 30 cookies, so before we could eat them all, I shared some. My sister-in-law who does not like candied fruit whatsoever, told me she ate most of them before anyone could get to them. Enjoy!
More Christmas Cookies that you may Enjoy!
- Easy Chocolate Chip Whipped Shortbread
- Almond Crescent Cookies
- Chocolate Almond Biscotti
- Lemon Thumbprint Cookies
- Shortbread Cookies
Nutty Chocolate Chip Fruitcake Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (with at least 11.5 % protein)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 pinch salt*
- 1 cup candied fruit
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (unsweetened or milk)
- 1/2 cup nuts (hazelnut, walnuts or almonds) (coarsely chopped)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons butter (softened)*
- 1 large egg
- 3 tablespoons orange juice
- 1/2 tablespoon rum extract
*If you use unsalted butter then use ¼ teaspoon salt.
Instructions
- In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, soda and salt, then stir in the candied fruit, chocolate chips and nuts.
- Beat together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes, then add the egg, orange juice and rum extract. Beat for two minutes.
- Add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture and mix to combine. (If you wish at this point you can chill the dough for 30-60 minutes). Drop by spoonfuls on parchment paper lined cookie sheets. Cover the cookie sheets with plastic wrap and chill for 15-20 minutes while the oven is pre-heating. Remove from the fridge and bake for 10-12 minutes or until slightly golden.
- Pre-heat oven to 350F (180C).
- Let cool on pan for approximately 5 minutes then move to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Updated from November 1, 2017.
Greg M says
Has anyone added a frosting or glaze. Just made double recipe to freeze/bake in a couple weeks for my cookie trays. Thinking a light rum glaze?
Monica says
Thank you for this wonderful recipe, I made these cookies exactly like the recipe and they were gone in a flash!
Rosemary says
Hi Monica, thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed the cookies. Take care!
Lynn Battilana says
I’ve only made to freeze. So easy. It’ll be fantastic on all the Christmas trays. Thank you.
Rosemary says
Thanks so much Lynn, yes perfect on Christmas trays! Take care!
Mary says
Can the dough be made and refrigerated overnight and bake the next day?
Rosemary says
Hi Mary, yes it can, raw cookie dough can keep for up to 2-3 days in the fridge, wrap it well or place in an airtight container. Let me know how it goes.
Gail McDuffie says
These cookies are so yummy. I made a couple of changes . I can’t have any nuts so I substituted coconut and didn’t have any rum extract nor could not find at the store. Instead I used 1/2 tablespoon of Jack Daniel Tennessee whiskey with honey. You can only get a hint of the honey but love these cookies. My husband has already ate about half of them. Thank you for this recipe.
Rosemary says
Hi Gail, thanks so much, great idea with the coconut and the Jack Daniels. Happy New Year.
Barbara says
May the chocolate chips be omitted
Rosemary says
Hi Barbara, sure if you want you can even add more candied fruit or nuts. I hope you enjoy them.
Steve P. says
Absolutely delicious, Tried them on friends who swear they dont like candied fruit. WRONG, they love these. A real keeper. Thanks for sharing
Rosemary says
Hi Steve, thanks so much, So glad you and your friends enjoyed them. Take care.
Anthony Embrey says
best fruitcake cookie I’ve ever tried/made. Thanks for sharing!!
Rosemary says
Hi Anthony, thanks so much, glad you like them. Happy New Year.
Steve says
Freezing: should I freeze cooked or uncooked dropped on cookie sheet – Thanks
Rosemary says
Hi Steve, I always bake them then freeze, although you could do either. I bake then let them, then let them cool completely and place them in an airtight container or freezer bags. Unbaked you should freeze on cookie sheets and then place in an airtight container or bags. Hope that helps.
Grace Warsoo Bernard says
Greetings from Malaysia. I just saw your recipe and I’m so so so eager to try them out. Oh and just to let you know…. it’s gonna be my first time baking something. If I wanna do some twist in your original recipe like making them into a chocolate fruitcake cookies… What should I do? What should I change/ substitute?
Hope you can help me with this…..
Eagerly waiting,
Grace B.
Rosemary says
Hi Grace, I’m so glad you chose these cookies as your first time baking, since it is the first time I would do the recipe as is and seeing how that goes then you could change the flour to 1 1/4 cups and add 2 tablespoons of cocoa. Let me know how it goes. Have a great Sunday.
Beverly says
These cookies look amazing. I am not a big fan of candied fruit, these just might change my mind.I am going to make them.
I hope you stop by Thursday Favorite Things since you are being featured.
Hugs,
Bev
Rosemary says
Hi Beverly, thanks so much and I think they might just change your mind too!
Adrienne Terzen says
Thanks! I will make them today!!!
Rosemary says
Hi Adrienne, I hope you like them, let me know. 🙂