Christmas Fruit Cookies

Easy Christmas fruit cookies are a delightful holiday treat that captures the festive spirit. These soft and chewy cookies are studded with colorful dried fruits creating a burst of flavor in every bite. A hint of warm chai spices adds a cozy, seasonal touch. The dough comes together quickly and can be customized with your favorite fruits and nuts. Perfect for holiday gatherings or as edible gifts, these cookies are a joy to make and share.

More Cookie Recipes To Try – Eggless Whole Wheat Jaggery Cookies, Almond Ghraybeh Cookies

About This Recipe

Christmas fruit cookies are a delightful holiday treat that are perfect for spreading festive cheer. These delicious cookies are packed with an array of dried fruits and nuts, giving them a rich and indulgent flavor. The combination of sweet and tart fruits, such as cherries, and raisins, adds a burst of juiciness to every bite.

Biting into a Christmas fruit cookie is like experiencing a symphony of flavors. The chewiness of the dried fruits and the crunchiness of the nuts create a textural contrast that is simply irresistible. The warmth of chai masala in the dough add a cozy touch, making these cookies the quintessential winter treat.

These cookies are not only delicious but also visually appealing. The vibrant colors of the fruits peeking through the golden dough make them a festive addition to any holiday dessert table. Enjoy them with a cup of hot cocoa by the fireplace or share them with friends and family during a holiday gathering. These Christmas fruit cookies are sure to bring joy and delight to all who indulge in them.

Baking Christmas fruit cookies is a wonderful way to create cherished memories during the holiday season. Get your apron ready, gather the ingredients, and let the sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies fill your home. Whether you follow a traditional recipe or add your own personal twist, these cookies are a delightful treat that will bring a smile to everyone’s face.

So why wait? Start baking and enjoy the magic of Christmas with every bite of these delectable fruit cookies.

Christmas Fruit Cake Ingredients

Mixed Dried Fruits: The combination of dark raisins, dates, and golden raisins adds a rich and sweet dimension to the cookies. Feel free to adjust the mix to your preferences.

Candied Cherries and Mixed Peel: These ingredients provide a colorful and tangy contrast to the sweetness of the dried fruits. They’re classic additions to fruitcake cookies.

Orange Marmalade and Lemon Juice: These citrus elements contribute a refreshing zest to the cookies, balancing the sweetness of the fruits.

Strong Brewed Tea: The tea infuses the dried fruits with flavor and moisture, enhancing their taste. It’s a unique twist that adds depth to the cookies.

Chopped Nuts: Almonds and cashews bring a delightful crunch and nutty richness to the cookies. You can use other nuts of your choice if preferred.

Chai Masala: This spice blend adds a warm and aromatic touch to the cookies, making them perfect for the holiday season. Adjust the amount to suit your spice preference.

Icing Sugar and Brown Sugar: These sugars provide sweetness and help create a tender texture in the cookies. Icing sugar contributes to a smoother texture.

All-Purpose Flour and Corn Starch: The combination of these flours helps to achieve the desired cookie consistency. Cornstarch can make the cookies more tender and crumbly.

Easy Christmas Fruit Cake

These decadent fruit cookies are the perfect treat for the holiday season. They capture all the delightful flavors of a traditional fruit cake, but in a conveniently bite-sized form. Each cookie is loaded with an assortment of dried fruits, including dates, raisins, and cherries, to add a burst of tangy sweetness. The mixed peel adds a touch of citrusy zest, while the nuts provide a satisfying crunch.

But what truly sets these cookies apart is the combination of rich butter and fragrant spices. These ingredients infuse the cookies with a warm and comforting aroma, reminiscent of a cozy winter’s day. The butter lends a luscious, melt-in-your-mouth texture to the cookies, making each bite absolutely irresistible.

Whether you’re a fruit cake enthusiast or not, these cookies are sure to win your heart. They offer all the delightful flavors of a fruit cake, but with a delightful twist. The crisp and chewy texture of the cookies adds an element of surprise, elevating them to a whole new level of deliciousness.

So, if you find yourself craving the wonderful flavors of a fruit cake but don’t have the time or inclination to bake one, these cookies are the perfect solution. They are a delightful treat to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee, or they can be beautifully packaged and shared with loved ones during the festive season.

Give these fruit cookies a try this year, and be prepared to be amazed by their enticing flavor and addictive qualities. They are truly a holiday treat you won’t want to miss!

Tips To Make Best Christmas Fruit Cookies

• Soak the Dried Fruits: To ensure the dried fruits are moist and full of flavor, soak them in a mixture of strong brewed tea, orange marmalade, and lemon juice. This step helps rehydrate the fruits and infuse them with a pleasant citrusy aroma.
• Customize the Fruit Mix: Feel free to customize the dried fruits according to your preferences. You can add or substitute ingredients like cranberries, apricots, currants, or figs to create a unique flavor profile.
• Use Quality Ingredients: Use high-quality dried fruits, nuts, and spices for the best results. Fresh and flavorful ingredients will make a significant difference in the taste of your cookies.
• Mix the Dry Ingredients: Combine the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, and chai masala (or your preferred spices) separately before adding them to the wet ingredients. This ensures even distribution of the dry ingredients and the spices throughout the dough.
• Soften Butter: Make sure the unsalted butter is at room temperature for easy mixing. Softened butter will create a smoother dough and help with even mixing of other ingredients.
• Don’t Overmix: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, mix just until they are well combined. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies, so be gentle with the dough.
• Chill the Dough: After mixing the cookie dough, it’s a good idea to chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Chilled dough is easier to handle and results in cookies with a better texture.
• Use a Cookie Scoop: To ensure uniform cookie sizes, use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion out the dough onto the baking sheets. This ensures that the cookies will bake evenly.
• Watch the Baking Time: Bake at right temperature. Keep a close eye on the cookies as they bake, as they can brown quickly. The cookies are done when the edges turn golden brown. Remember that they will continue to firm up as they cool on the baking sheet.
• Allow Cookies to Cool: Give the cookies some time to cool on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack. This helps them set and maintain their texture.

Storing Fruit Cookies

Allow the Cookies to Cool Completely: Before storing, ensure that your cookies have cooled to room temperature. This prevents moisture from building up inside the storage container, which can lead to a loss of freshness.

Use an Airtight Container: Store the cookies in an airtight container to prevent them from becoming stale or absorbing unwanted odors. You can use cookie tins, plastic containers with tight-fitting lids, or glass jars with rubber gaskets. For larger quantities, consider using a cookie tin or multiple smaller containers.

Layer with Parchment Paper: To prevent the cookies from sticking together and maintain their shape and texture, place a sheet of parchment paper between the layers of cookies in the container.

Store in a Cool, Dry Place: Keep the container of cookies in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Do not store them in the refrigerator, as the humidity can affect their texture and flavor.

Label and Date: It’s a good idea to label the container with the type of cookies and the date you baked them. This helps you keep track of freshness and flavor.

Freeze for Long-Term Storage: If you want to store cookies for an extended period, you can freeze them. Place the cookies in an airtight container or freezer bags, separating layers with parchment paper. You can store cookies in the freezer for up to a few months. When ready to enjoy, allow them to thaw at room temperature for a few hours.

Thank you Nandita of ‘PAAKA-SHAALE’ for sharing this amazing recipe and wonderful pictures. These cookies were part of Christmas and New Years Bakes guest post series. Nandita says, these Christmas Fruit Cookies are inspired by Ina Garten’s Fruit Cake Cookies.