I’ve been publishing this recipe blog since 2010, and occasionally I’ll revisit old recipes that are a little wonky or that I’ve improved upon. This recipe for Christmas Fruitcake Gems falls into both camps. I first wrote about this recipe several years ago, but I found the instructions to be poorly written and the ingredients inexact. (Hey, I was new to this recipe blogging thing.) So I’ve adapted, updated and thoroughly bettered this recipe.
Most notably: with rum.
The rum, of course, is optional. But rum is a classic ingredient in traditional fruitcake, so I’d advocate for its inclusion.
What fruit and nuts to use in this Christmas fruitcake cookie? See the note in the recipe for what I used. Dried apricots are really nice; you could also use dried apple, golden raisins, dried cranberries, dried pineapple. Glazed (also called candied or glacéed) red cherries are a must. Pistachios or pecans (or both) are good; use roasted unsalted nuts.
These cookies have the perfect balance: not too sweet (yay, dark brown sugar!), full of lovely fruit and nuts in a tender cookie. These bear not the slightest resemblance to the leaden loaf-o-fruitcake that everyone avoids on the dessert buffet at Aunt Nellie’s house on Christmas Day. And, you know, rum.
Christmas fruitcake cookie recipe
makes 5 dozen
3 cups chopped dried fruit (see Note)
1/2 cup candied cherries, chopped
2 cups nuts of your choice, chopped
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar (light or dark, or both)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon dark rum (optional)
Preheat oven to 350°; line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. In a large bowl, toss dried fruit, cherries and nuts with 1/4 cup of flour to coat (this keeps the fruit from sticking in a clump when you blend it into the dough). In another bowl, stir together the remaining 2 cups flour, salt and baking soda. In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl using a hand mixer), cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, blending after each addition; add vanilla and mix. Carefully add dry ingredients and mix on low speed to blend thoroughly. Carefully stir in fruit and nuts.
Drop dough by generous teaspoons prepared baking sheets; use slightly damp fingers to shape the dough into round, even mounds. Bake for 12–15 minutes — rotating pans and switching shelf position — until nicely golden. Cool slightly, then remove to a wire rack to fully cool.
Note: I used the diced fruit medley (dried peaches, pears, apples and apricots), glazed red cherries and roasted unsalted pistachios from Nuts.com in this recipe. Feel free to use your favorite dried fruit and roasted, unsalted nuts.
these I will have to make! Happy Holidays.
Glad you like the recipe, Charlene! Let us know how you like the results, too.
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