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    Easy Christmas Fruitcake Cookies Recipe

    Cooking, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Family Recipes Jump to Recipe

    old-fashioned fruitcake cookies on a green jadeite plate

    These old-fashioned fruitcake cookies are nutty, chewy and delicious with candied fruit and pecans in every bite. If you’re not a holiday fruitcake fan, these cookies will change your mind!

    What is it about Christmas fruitcake that sparks such strong emotions? How did it become the “coal in your stocking” of Christmas treats?

    What a gorgeous Christmas home tour, full of colorful and vintage decorations with a touch of elegance. You'll love her collection of vintage Shiny-Brite ornaments and all the mercury glass. Don't miss the blue-and-white Christmas decor in the master bedroom or the blue-and-silver color scheme in the family room. So unexpected! And the Christmas tree full of glass ornaments is stunning! Everything is so elegant. Especially the golden dining room! So many great Christmas decorating ideas, especially if you love color, southern traditional decor and vintage items.

    Personally, I’m a fan of fruitcake. If you’re not, I have two recipes that I think will change your mind.

    There’s my grandma’s ice box fruit cake, which is nothing like the spongy, cellophane wrapped brick that is the punchline of so many Christmas jokes. You can find that recipe here.

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    These old-fashioned fruitcake cookies are nutty, chewy and delicious with candied fruit and pecans in every bite. If you're not a holiday fruitcake fan, these cookies will change your mind!

    And then there’s these old-fashioned fruitcake cookies that are soft, moist and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Each bite is packed with fruit and nuts — so yummy!

    These old-fashioned fruitcake cookies are nutty, chewy and delicious with candied fruit and pecans in every bite. If you're not a holiday fruitcake fan, these cookies will change your mind!

    This recipe is adapted from an old church cookbook, so you know it’s good. And a batch makes eight dozen cookies, more than enough to share with the neighbors. Just don’t tell them they’re fruitcake cookies. Call them holiday fruit drops or some other euphemism.

    These old-fashioned fruitcake cookies are nutty, chewy and delicious with candied fruit and pecans in every bite. If you're not a holiday fruitcake fan, these cookies will change your mind!

    One bite, and they’ll call them delicious!

    Watch Me Make Fruitcake Cookies

    I had the opportunity to share this recipe with readers of Country Sampler Farmhouse Style magazine on their Facebook page. Watch here:

    The good thing about this recipe is that you can make the dough ahead and bake the cookies the next day. Baked fruitcake cookies can also be frozen and served later.

    fruitcake cookies on a jadeite plate

    Christmas Fruitcake Cookies

    These old-fashioned fruitcake cookies are nutty, chewy and delicious with candied fruit and pecans in every bite. If you're not a holiday fruitcake fan, these cookies will change your mind!
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Total Time 25 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8 dozen cookies

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cup shortening
    • 2 cups brown sugar, packed
    • 2 eggs
    • ½ cup milk
    • 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 tsp baking soda
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1 ½ cups pecan pieces
    • 2 cups candied cherries
    • 2 cups chopped dates

    Instructions
     

    • Cream together shortening, sugar and eggs.
    •  Add milk and stir to combine.
    • Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and blend.
    • Stir in nuts and fruit. Chill dough for at least an hour.
    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheet with silicon mat, parchment paper or lightly grease.
    • Drop dough, by rounded teaspoon, onto baking sheet, spaced 2 inches apart.
    • Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned.
    Did You Make This?Mention @AttaGirlSays or tag #attagirlsays!

    Pin This! Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies

    old-fashioned fruitcake cookies on a green jadeite plate

    For more delicious Christmas cookie and dessert recipes, check out these posts:

    These chocolate-dipped peppermints are one of my favorite Christmas candy recipes. They have a sweet, creamy center center flecked with peppermint. I can't decide if they're better dipped in white chocolate or semisweet chocolate. Make up a bunch for neighbor gifts or reacher gifts, and you'll be everyone's favorite. #ad #worldmarkettribe

    Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Candy

    This no-bake icebox fruit cake recipe will change your mind about Christmas's most maligned dessert. You'll love this fruity and nutty version made with graham crackers and marshmallows.

    No-Bake Christmas Icebox Fruit Cake

    no-bake butterscotch haystack cookies on a pan

    30 Yummy Christmas Cookie Recipes

    Nutty Salted Caramel Chocolate Sauce Homemade Gift #TasteTheSeason #cbias #ad

    Nutty Salted Caramel Chocolate Sauce

    Hot chocolate and s'mores? Could it get any better? These chocolate covered marshmallows with a graham cracker topping are so easy to make. They're delicious as a snack but even better in a mug of hot chocolate. Sounds like a good excuse to throw a hot chocolate party! #ad #ShareYourDelight

    S’mores Chocolate-Covered Marshmallows

    Filed Under: Cooking, Desserts, Easy Recipes, Family Recipes Tagged With: Christmas, Cookies, dessert

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. sandra c Logan

      December 10, 2019 at 9:43 pm

      I dont have any shortening, what can i sub for it?? Butter??

      thank you

      Reply
      • Atta Girl Amy

        December 21, 2019 at 11:12 am

        Yes, you can substitute butter.

        Reply
    2. Wilkins

      December 21, 2017 at 2:00 am

      5 stars
      Just made this on the recommendation of a friend who saw the recipe on your site. My kids loved it. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply

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    Welcome! I'm Amy, your teacher and sassy southern sidekick, sharing easy crafts, home projects and delicious recipes you'll love to make.

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