Christmas Fruitcake Cookies with Bourbon
Christmas Fruitcake Cookies with Bourbon are a delicious take on the classic fruitcake dessert. Whether you are a seasoned fruitcake lover or a newcomer, these delicious treats promise to be the star of your Christmas celebration.
Get ready to elevate your holiday baking with a twist on tradition – Fruitcake Cookies! These cookies are nostalgic and strike the perfect balance, offering a nod to the timeless flavors of the traditional fruitcake. They unleash a burst of holiday cheer in every chewy bite, are fun and easy to make, and add a touch of spirit to your holiday dessert table. These are the best Christmas cookies and seem to steal the show at every holiday gathering.
These cookies testify to the old-fashioned charm and tradition usually celebrated during the holidays. A time when families gather in cozy kitchens, bake Christmas treats, share new and old recipes, cherish family time, and enjoy the aroma of holiday baking. These cookies have a rustic appearance and are perfect when paired with hot cocoa, coffee, or a glass of milk.
What Are Fruitcake Cookies?
Fruitcake cookies are a delightful blend of candied fruits, pecans, warm spices, and a kick of spirits; all encased in a flavorful, bright, and golden cookie. They borrow the ingredients from the classic fruitcake but taste so much better. This cherished family recipe has been passed down through generations and carries the essence of festivity, making it ideal for any holiday celebration. Even if you’re not a fan of the classic fruitcake, these cookies are certainly worth trying. These have become one of my preferred holiday treats and are essential for the festive season.
Why Fruitcake Cookies Are Fabulous
The charm of these cookies is a treat in itself. The vibrant candied fruits, such as cherries, raisins, and pineapple, add a burst of color and infuse each bite with a sweetness that mirrors the season. The warm spices add a comforting and aromatic touch that fills your home with the nostalgic fragrance of holiday joy. The bourbon does not overpower the taste of the cookies; rather it gives them a depth that compliments the fruit, providing an excellent balance and richness. With each batch from the oven, these cookies become a holiday delight and a cherished tradition. This year, transform your home into a cozy retreat where the magic comes to life with each bite.
Ingredients Needed
These Christmas Fruitcake Cookies with Bourbon are famous during the holiday season; therefore, the candied fruit usually appears in my local grocery stores after Thanksgiving. See the printable recipe card below for a complete list of amounts.
Butter – Butter makes these cookies rich and creamy, adding to their indulgent texture and flavor.
Sugar – Sugar adds sweetness, balancing the fruit and adding to the overall taste.
Eggs – Large eggs add moisture and bind the ingredients together.
All-Purpose Flour – This is the cookie’s main dry ingredient and gives structure to the cookies.
Baking Soda – Baking soda is a leveling agent and helps the cookies to rise.
Ground Cloves and Ground Cinnamon – Warm spices that infuse the cookies with a festive flavor and aromatic scent.
Candied Fruit (mixed red & green cherries, pineapple) – I bought the Paradise brand for these cookies, and they were great. You may find a different brand in your grocery store, or you may choose to order online. This is sweetened real fruit. I prefer to buy the cherry and pineapple mix for these cookies. They are already chopped and ready for the mix. Look for candied fruit, not dried fruit. Sometimes, they are found on the baking aisle or in the produce section.
Golden Raisins – These are sweet and plump, adding a chewy texture to the cookies.
Bourbon – Adds a rich flavor to the cookies and compliments the fruit.
Pecans – Pecans add a crunchy and nutty element to the cookies.
Using the Right Candied Fruit
I usually make these cookies during the holiday season. This sweetened real fruit mixture usually appears in my grocery store after Thanksgiving. When looking for candied fruit, be sure to check the ingredients. It is sold individually in whole candied cherries (red and green) and pineapple. I like to buy the diced mixture with cherry and pineapple. It is ready to be mixed, and no chopping is required. If you can only find the whole fruit, you will need to do an extra step and chop it for the recipe. Also, the fruit is a bit pricy, but use a good quality for these cookies. This easy drop cookie recipe makes a lot of cookies, so the quality does matter.
How To Make Fruitcake Cookies
This fruitcake cookies recipe is an easy recipe to follow. There are several steps, but they are easy steps. This is the original recipe that has been in our family for generations. The fruitcake mix yields a delicious cookie. This recipe makes about 132 drop cookies using a tablespoon cookie scoop.
- Combine fruit, nuts, and raisins with 1/2 cup of the flour. Toss well to coat and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine the remaining flour, baking soda, cloves, and cinnamon. Mix well and set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar for 2 minutes at medium speed; scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add eggs and beat well. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- Reduce the speed to low and slowly add dry ingredients and bourbon. Mix well.
- Remove the bowl from the mixer. Pour dough into a large bowl and stir in the fruit and nut mixture.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight.
- To Bake: Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
- Lightly grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
- Drop the mixture onto the prepared pan using a tablespoon cookie scoop and bake for 15 minutes.
- Cool on a wire rack to room temperature before storing in an airtight container.
Why This Mixture Should Refrigerate Overnight
Chilling the cookie dough overnight is essential for several reasons that contribute to the overall deliciousness of the cookie. The patience in chilling the dough lends to a more satisfying and delicious cookie.
- Flavor: Allowing the dough to sit in the refrigerator overnight gives the ingredients more time to meld and develop their flavors. This is important for these fruit cake cookies where the spices and fruit need this rest time.
- Texture: Chilling the dough allows the butter to solidify. When baked, this can make a thicker and chewier cookie.
- Controlled Spreading: Chilled dough tends to spread less when baking. This is important when you have mix-ins such as fruit and nuts.
Pro Tips And Variations For This Recipe
This is the best and only fruitcake cookie recipe I have and use. These tips are to enhance your fruitcake cookie baking experience.
Recipe Tips:
Recipe Variations:
Baking is a creative process, so adjust the recipe to your taste preferences. These are just suggestions to help with your journey of baking your own fruitcake cookies.
How To Store Chewy Fruitcake Cookies
There are several ways to store your fruitcake cookies. You can keep them in an airtight container or ziptop bag on your kitchen counter for up to a week. If you find yourself with a lot of cookies, you might freeze them to enjoy throughout the season or during the year. To freeze: Place the cookies in a freezer-safe container or freezer safe bag and layer the cookies. Place them in a single layer and top with parchment paper before adding another layer on top. This will make it easy to remove the amount you need at one time.
How To Share These Cookies
This recipe makes a lot of baked cookies, enough for you and enough to share with others. I know I would love to receive these as a gift. Remember, sharing cookies is about making memories, connecting with loved ones, and spreading the warmth of the Christmas season.
Decorative Tin: Fill a decorative tin and share these cookies with co-workers, neighbors, friends, and family. You might make them fruitcake cookie fans.
Cookie Exchange: Share these cookies at a cookie exchange. A cookie swap is a great way to go home with a variety of cookies for the holiday season.
Gift Basket: Make a holiday gift basket filled with cookies, hot cocoa, and festive mugs.
Cookie Tray: Make cookie trays for gatherings. Place cookies around the kitchen and entertaining areas for your guests. These make a festive addition to your holiday dessert tray and a great way to share your cookies.
As you savor these delightful cookies, may the holiday spirit bring you closer and fill you with love, laughter, and an appreciation for the simple pleasures that make this season exceptional. Embrace the magic of togetherness, cherish your family, and enjoy the moments that make this Christmas enchanting. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can substitute the bourbon with fruit juice if desired. White grape juice or apple juice would be suitable substitutes. Keep in mind the change will alter the taste of the cookies.
Absolutely. These cookies freeze well. Place the cookies in an air-tight container or zip-top bag and place them into the freezer for 3-4 months.
Yes, this is an important step and should not be skipped. Refrigerating the dough allows the flavors to meld and intensify.
More Cookie Recipes
Christmas Candy Canes Cookie Recipe
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Christmas Fruitcake Cookies with Bourbon
Ingredients
- 2½ sticks butter room temperature
- 1¼ cups sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 3 cups all purpose flour divided
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 pounds candied fruit mixed red and green cherries, pineapple
- 15oz. box golden raisins
- 6 oz. bourbon
- 3 cups pecans finely chopped
Instructions
- Combine fruit, nuts, and raisins with 1/2 cup of the flour. Toss well to coat and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, combine the remaining flour, baking soda, cloves, and cinnamon. Mix well and set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed, cream butter and sugar for 2 minutes; scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add eggs and beat well. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
- Reduce the speed to low and slowly add dry ingredients (flour mixture) and bourbon. Mix well.
- Remove the bowl from the mixer. Pour dough into a large bowl and stir in the fruit and nut mixture.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight.
- To Bake: Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
- Lightly grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.
- Drop the mixture onto the prepared pan using a tablespoon cookie scoop and bake for 15 minutes.
- Cool on a wire rack to room temperature before storing in an airtight container.
