If you’re searching for a treat that tastes like pure holiday nostalgia, look no further than these Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies. These delightful little gems are brimming with vibrant candied cherries, chewy dates, golden raisins, and crunchy pecans, all nestled in a warmly spiced dough that’s irresistibly soft and tender. Each bite delivers a burst of old-world charm and sweet, satisfying flavor—making them the perfect cookie to share (or savor on your own) during festive gatherings, cozy tea times, or as an anytime snack that never goes out of style.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This is truly a recipe where every ingredient shines, bringing a medley of texture, color, and big, bold flavor to your Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies. Each item plays a starring role, so use the best you can find for a cookie everyone will remember!
- Unsalted Butter (softened): Gives your cookies that luscious, tender crumb and buttery foundation everyone loves.
- Brown Sugar (packed): Adds rich, caramel-y sweetness and helps keep the cookies moist.
- Eggs: Two large eggs act as the binder, making sure everything stays together while adding a touch of richness.
- Vanilla Extract: A splash enhances all the other warm, cozy flavors without overpowering.
- All-Purpose Flour: The classic choice for structure and softness—don’t skimp on sifting for the best texture.
- Baking Soda: Helps the cookies puff up just enough for a tender, cakey bite.
- Salt: Essential to balance out the sweetness and bring all the flavors forward.
- Cinnamon: Adds a signature warmth that makes fruitcake treats so comforting.
- Ground Nutmeg: A touch of nutmeg deepens the spice profile—so fragrant and festive!
- Pecans (chopped): For that all-important crunch and a nutty counterpoint to the sweet fruits.
- Candied Red Cherries (chopped): These jewel-like bites add vivid color and classic fruitcake sweetness.
- Candied Green Cherries (chopped): Bright pops of green look so cheerful in every cookie.
- Dates (chopped): Naturally chewy and caramel-like, chopped dates make these cookies extra special.
- Golden Raisins: Lend a luscious, sunshiny flavor to every bite.
How to Make Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies
Step 1: Prep the Baking Essentials
Start by preheating your oven to 325°F (163°C) and lining your baking sheets with parchment paper. This simple step is key for cookies that bake up perfectly golden and lift easily off the tray without sticking or spreading too much.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugar
In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. This creaming process ensures your Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies have a soft, tender texture—it’s worth those extra minutes!
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Crack in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Finish off with a splash of vanilla extract. This step brings everything together and starts building the luscious cookie dough base.
Step 4: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Even distribution of the leaveners and spices means you’ll taste that beautiful holiday warmth in every bite.
Step 5: Mix Dry Into Wet
Gradually add your dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Don’t overmix—the secret to tender cookies is stopping as soon as you no longer see streaks of flour.
Step 6: Fold in Fruits and Nuts
Gently fold in the chopped pecans, candied cherries, dates, and golden raisins. Aim for an even distribution so each cookie gets the perfect balance of chewy, crunchy, and sweet.
Step 7: Portion and Bake
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for just a little spreading. Pop them in the oven and bake for 12–15 minutes, until the edges are golden and the centers are set—keep an eye out for those beautiful flecks of fruit peeking through!
Step 8: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. This gives the cookies time to firm up and develop their classic chewy texture, so they’ll be just perfect for serving.
How to Serve Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies
Garnishes
A little extra flourish can make these cookies shine: try a light dusting of powdered sugar just before serving for a snowy holiday look, or press a whole candied cherry into the top of each cookie before baking for a playful, jewel-toned accent.
Side Dishes
Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies are a wonderful match for festive drinks like spiced cider, eggnog, or a rich cup of hot cocoa. For a tea party vibe, serve alongside a pot of black tea or aromatic chai to bring out the spices in the cookies.
Creative Ways to Present
Arrange your cookies on a vintage holiday platter, wrap them up in cellophane bags tied with ribbon for sweet homemade gifts, or stack them in decorative tins layered with parchment for an edible centerpiece at your dessert table—these cookies are never out of place at any celebration.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once your Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies have completely cooled, store them in an airtight container at room temperature. They’ll keep beautifully for up to a week, staying chewy and flavorful the whole time.
Freezing
These cookies freeze incredibly well! Layer cooled cookies between parchment paper in an airtight container or zipper bag. They can be frozen for up to three months—just thaw at room temperature before serving so you can enjoy a taste of the holidays anytime.
Reheating
If you love a cookie with a warm-from-the-oven taste, pop a cookie or two in the microwave for 5–10 seconds. This revives that soft, just-baked texture and amplifies the spice aroma in your Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies.
FAQs
Can I use different nuts or fruits in the recipe?
Absolutely! While pecans, cherries, dates, and golden raisins create the signature flavor, you can swap in walnuts, dried cranberries, or even chocolate chips for a fun twist. Just keep the overall total amount of mix-ins the same.
Do I really need to use both red and green candied cherries?
You don’t have to, but using both colors gives Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies their traditional, festive look. Feel free to use whichever you prefer or have on hand—you’ll still get a delicious cookie.
How can I make the cookies extra moist?
If you’d like even moister cookies, try soaking the chopped fruits in a tablespoon or two of dark rum or brandy overnight. This brings classic fruitcake flavor while keeping every bite soft and succulent.
Can these cookies be made gluten-free?
Yes! Substitute a high-quality 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for the regular flour. Make sure your baking soda and other add-ins are certified gluten-free, and your cookies will turn out deliciously chewy.
What’s the best way to package these cookies as gifts?
Let the cookies cool completely, then stack them in festive tins or boxes lined with parchment paper. Adding a ribbon or gift tag makes them a heartfelt (and very tasty!) holiday present everyone will appreciate.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re baking for loved ones or treating yourself, these Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies bring warmth, joy, and a whisper of tradition to any occasion. Gather your ingredients, put on your favorite holiday playlist, and let the good memories begin—once you try them, you’ll want to bake a batch every single year!
Print
Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 36 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies are a delightful holiday treat that captures all the flavors of a classic fruitcake in a convenient cookie form. Packed with nuts, candied cherries, and raisins, these cookies are perfect for Christmas or any festive occasion.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Additional Mix-Ins:
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- 1 cup chopped candied red cherries
- 1 cup chopped candied green cherries
- 1 cup chopped dates
- ½ cup golden raisins
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare baking sheets: Preheat the oven to 325°F (163°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar: In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs and vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the vanilla extract.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Combine wet and dry ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until combined.
- Stir in mix-ins: Fold in the chopped pecans, candied cherries, dates, and golden raisins until evenly distributed.
- Bake: Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets and bake for 12–15 minutes, or until golden.
- Cool and serve: Allow the cookies to cool before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
- For a richer flavor, soak the dried fruits in rum or brandy overnight before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 75mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
