Dried Fruit & Nut Cookies
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Need a hearty and flavorful cookie that is delicious and easy to bake? Look no further than this easy cookie recipe that is full of spice, dried fruits, and nuts!
This is the kind of simple, basic cookie recipes that allows you to use up bits of things in the pantry and also come up with an incredibly satsifying dessert all at the same time.
There’s nothing fancy here in terms of ingredients or baking technique and yet the fruit and nut cookies won’t last long in your cookie jar.
Need Chill Time
While this is a basic recipe and uses simple ingredients, you do need to plan ahead for some chill time for the dough.
You’ll need at least an hour in the refrigerator before baking – however, longer is more than okay.
Feel free to make the dough up to 3 days ahead and leave in the fridge before baking. I’m defintely a fan of making the dough before bed and baking it up the next day.
Which Fruits?
Honestly any dried fruits you have on hand will work. Chop anything that is large. Use whole raisins, whole dried cranberries. Chop things like dried apricots or prunes. Snip things like dried apples or pears.
Use a single dried fruit or a mix – baker’s choice.
Which Nuts?
Again, anything you have on hand and prefer will work. Walnuts, almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, etc. Simply give it all a rough chop.
Use a single nut or a mix – again, baker’s choice.
You can use raw nuts, toasted nuts, or even salted nut mixes if preferred for a more sweet, salty vibe.
Other Options
This recipe should truly be about using what’s in the pantry. You want about 1 1/2 cups total of things mixed into the cookie batter.
Use all dried fruit and skip the nuts or vice versa. Use more dried fruit and less nuts, etc.
You could also add something like chocolate chips or some seeds like sunflower or sesame, if desired.
Spice Choices
The recipe as written includes cinnamon, allspice, and ginger. You should not feel locked into those choices.
Use what you like and have on hand. Apple pie spice would work, cardamom, nutmeg, clove, etc. Anything you like will work here, choose based on that.
If you don’t like spice, feel free to reduce or even skip the spice.
How to Serve
Like any cookie, keep it simple. Serve with milk, coffee, tea, etc.
These are great cookies as part of a holiday or dessert buffet.
Definitely turn them into ice cream sandwiches if you’d like.
They are delightful in lunch boxes and care packages!
How to Store
Keep cookies in an airtight containter where they should stay fresh for up to 5 days.
For longer term storage, place into plastic bags or freezer containers and freeze. Use up within 6 months for best flavor.
These cookies do freeze delightfully so make a double batch to have some for later.
Fruit & Nut Cookies
Hearty and full of flavor, these crunchy and chewy cookies are full of spice, dried fruit, and nuts for a filling snacke or treat.
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 Cups Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon Ground Allspice
- 1/2 Cup Butter, softened
- 2/3 Cup Brown Sugar, packed
- 1 Egg
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/4 Cup Milk
- 3/4 Cup Dried Fruit, chopped
- 3/4 Cup Nuts, chopped
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, or the bowl of a mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and vanilla extract to the butter mixture and mix thoroughly.
- Add about half the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and mix slightly.
- Add the milk and slowly stir until combined, add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until almost combined.
- Fold in the dried fruit and nuts, stirring until completely combined.
- Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (longer okay).
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Grease cookie sheets.
- Remove the cookie dough from the refrigerator and drop by Tablespoons full onto prepared cookie sheet.
- Flatten each bit of dough with the heel of your palm.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
- Remove the cookies from the baking sheets to cool on wire racks.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 24 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 130Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 86mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 1gSugar: 8gProtein: 2g
We try but cannot guarantee the the nutrition information is 100% accurate.