Festive German Fruit and Nut Cookies
Delight in the rich flavors of the Festive German Fruit and Nut Cookies, a perfect treat for the holiday season. This recipe combines the sweetness of pitted dates, candied cherries, and pineapple with the crunch of toasted pecans and nuts. With a hint of warm spices and a chewy texture, these cookies are sure to be a favorite at any holiday gathering. Share them with loved ones or package them as thoughtful gifts, and enjoy the festive spirit they bring to your celebrations!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
17
Ingredients
Ingredients
butter
1/2 cup (softened)
shortening
1/2 cup (softened)
brown sugar
1 1/2 cups (packed)
vanilla extract
2 teaspoons (pure)
eggs
2 (beaten)
flour
2 1/2 cups (sifted)
salt
1 teaspoon (none)
cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons (ground)
nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon (ground)
baking soda
1 teaspoon (none)
hot tap water
1 tablespoon (none)
pitted dates
2 cups (cut into thirds)
candied cherries
2 cups (halved)
diced candied pineapple
2 cups (none)
toasted pecans
1 cup (chopped)
blanched almonds
1 cup (whole)
Brazil nuts
1 cup (cut into thirds)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) and prepare a greased cookie sheet.
2
In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
3
Add the beaten eggs to the mixture, beating until it becomes fluffy and light.
4
In a separate bowl, sift together 2 cups of flour with salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and mix well.
5
Dissolve the baking soda in hot tap water and gradually add it to the creamed mixture, alternating with the dry ingredients, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients. Mix until well blended.
6
In a small bowl, toss the chopped fruit (dates, candied cherries, and diced pineapple) with the remaining 1/2 cup of flour to coat them evenly. This helps to prevent the fruit from sinking during baking.
7
Gently fold the floured fruit and nuts (toasted pecans, blanched almonds, and Brazil nuts) into the dough using your hands until evenly distributed.
8
Drop rounded teaspoons of dough onto the prepared cookie sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
9
Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden.
10
Once baked, allow the cookies to cool on the sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Festive German Fruit and Nut Cookies?
These are holiday-themed drop cookies featuring a blend of candied fruits like cherries and pineapple, dates, and various toasted nuts, seasoned with warm spices.
What is the main flavor profile of these cookies?
They offer a sweet and nutty profile with warm notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla, complemented by the rich texture of dates and candied fruit.
How long do these cookies need to bake?
The cookies should be baked for approximately 15 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.
What is the recommended oven temperature?
Preheat your oven to 325°F (160°C) for the best results.
What types of fruit are included in the recipe?
The recipe calls for pitted dates, candied cherries, and diced candied pineapple.
What nuts are used in this festive cookie?
This recipe uses toasted pecans, blanched almonds, and Brazil nuts.
Why should I toss the fruit in flour before adding it to the dough?
Tossing the chopped fruit in a half cup of flour helps prevent the pieces from sinking to the bottom of the cookies during the baking process.
How much total flour is required?
The recipe requires a total of 2 1/2 cups of sifted flour, divided into 2 cups for the batter and 1/2 cup for coating the fruit.
What kind of fats are used for the creamed mixture?
The recipe uses a combination of 1/2 cup of softened butter and 1/2 cup of softened shortening.
How do I prepare the dates for this recipe?
Pitted dates should be cut into thirds before being added to the mixture.
How should the baking soda be added?
Dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in one tablespoon of hot tap water before gradually adding it to the creamed mixture.
How should I prepare the cookie sheet?
You should use a greased cookie sheet to prevent the cookies from sticking.
How far apart should I space the dough on the baking sheet?
Drop rounded teaspoons of dough onto the sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
What spices provide the festive flavor?
Ground cinnamon and nutmeg provide the warm, festive spice profile for these cookies.
How do I know when the cookies are finished baking?
The cookies are done when the edges become lightly golden.
What is the best way to cool these cookies?
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before moving them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Are these cookies good for gifting?
Yes, they are described as a thoughtful gift option for loved ones during the holiday season.
How should the Brazil nuts be prepared?
The Brazil nuts should be cut into thirds before being incorporated into the dough.
What kind of cherries are recommended?
The recipe specifies using halved candied cherries.
How should the pecans be prepared?
The pecans should be toasted and then chopped.
What is the texture of these cookies?
These cookies have a chewy texture with a crunch from the various toasted nuts.
Should the eggs be prepared in a specific way?
Yes, the 2 eggs should be beaten before being added to the creamed mixture.
What type of sugar is used in this recipe?
The recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of packed brown sugar.
How do I mix the dry and wet ingredients?
The dry ingredients and the dissolved baking soda should be added to the creamed mixture alternately, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients.
How do I fold in the fruit and nuts?
You should gently fold the floured fruit and nuts into the dough using your hands to ensure even distribution.
What size should the cookie portions be?
The dough should be dropped by rounded teaspoons.
Are the almonds chopped or whole?
The recipe calls for whole blanched almonds.
What kind of vanilla is best for this recipe?
The recipe recommends using 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract.
How should the candied pineapple be prepared?
The candied pineapple should be diced before use.
What defines these cookies as German style?
They follow a traditional style of festive baking common in Germany that uses a heavy concentration of dried fruits, nuts, and warm winter spices.