ShareThisSo Todd was a bit miffed when I confessed to using his Blanton’s Bourbon in these cookies, but they’re for an Austin food blogger cookie swap and rest assured, that group knows good whiskey. Or that’s what I told my husband. Only the best for the food bloggers.
Use whatever type of whiskey you like, but it might as well be a good one because you can taste it in the cookies. Combined with the candied fruit and butter, the flavor is fabulous and very much in tune with the season. As a bonus, these are very simple to make and keep well, though you do need to start one day ahead so you can soak the fruit in booze.
Candied Fruit & Bourbon Cookies
1 pound (16 oz) chopped candied fruit (cherries, pineapples, oranges, citron mix)
1 1/4 cups (6 oz ) golden raisins
2/3 cup Bourbon whiskey
2 cups unbleached all purpose flour (9 oz)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
7 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, cooled
2 large eggs, lightly beaten in a separate bowl
3/4 teaspoon baking soda dissolved in 2 teaspoons water
2 1/2 cups chopped walnuts & pecans (or use all pecans or all walnuts)
Mix the candied fruit and raisins in a bowl. Pour in the Bourbon and stir to coat fruit. Cover and let sit overnight.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a couple of baking sheets with parchment or grease well.
Mix the flour, salt, cinnamon, cloves and both sugars in a large mixing bowl.
Add the beaten eggs, cooled melted butter, and baking soda/water mixture to flour mixture and stir until ingredients are mixed. Add the soaked fruit and nuts and stir until blended.
Scoop batter up by generously heaping teaspoonfuls and place a couple of inches apart on baking sheets – the cookies puff up, but they don’t spread too much. Bake for 15-18 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets and let cool. Store covered and let the Bourbon flavor mellow.
Makes about 4 1/2 to 5 dozen
And how much did the baker drink? LOL These look really good. I’d be tempted to try them using the dried fruit mix I use for my mini-fruitcakes (baked in tiny muffin tins). I can’t think off the top of my head, but there’s no candied fruit. It’s cherries, apricots, and all those other things soaked in bourbon for five days before you bake them.
Not being a bourbon or whiskey gal, I have no idea if 2/3 c. is a lot or a little when it comes to the good stuff. I hope you’re already forgiven for using it though.
I hope the food bloggers like them!
Ooooo my kind of cookie!
I admit it! I like candied fruit!
I don’t drink but I like fruitcake–I might use another beverage but these look like a great way to have the taste of fruitcake without the long ‘marinating’ period, and not quite so heavy.
THESE SOUND AND LOOK SO GOOD AND FESTIVE. hAVE TO TRY THEM HOPE I DON T GET BOOZY BY EATING THEM
This sounds like a much updated take on fruit cake.
These look so good I dashed right out and got the fruit and some 80 proof bourbon. They didn’t have 100 proof so I had to settle. I was tempted to use Southern Comfort – its a little sweeter, but I think the first time one should follow the directions.
Would Louise mind sharing her mini-fruitcake recipe? I have the pans and would like to try some.
Ahh, bourbon! A favorite of mine and my friends.
They sound like a “must make’ and soon! As soon as I buy candied fruit tomorrow…
Tell Todd that you really shouldn’t cook with anything you wouldn’t drink.
Anna, I just made these and they look good. When I put the bourbon in the fruit it really smelled, but after they are cooked I don’t taste the bourbon. Maybe after a day or two they will taste more. They are good, though. I was thinking of giving them a little shot like fruit cake!
The recipe was very easy to make but when I was mixing the fruit and nuts in the batter was quite thick. So I put on my gloves (the ones you get with hair coloring are just right for working with dough) and worked the batter with my hands. They don’t spread at all. Its a good recipe – thank you.
HI Alton,
I’m glad you liked the cookies! This was my first time making the recipe too. Maybe on the second try, I’ll add more bourbon. If you splashing a little bourbon over the baked cookies, let me know. I think that might work, but I’m not sure because the cookies are aleady pretty moist.
Hi there! I saw your page when i was google-ing and thought that i might as well try some of the recipes. They were great!
However, I do have a small question especially in regards to this recipe. You see, I don’t consume alcohol. Some of your recipes used them. how can I substitute them?
Thanks!
Well, it depends on the recipe. For instance, this recipe isn’t one where you’d bother with a substitute because Bourbon is the highlight. If recipes call for small amounts of booze — like 1/4 cup, then you might swap out another liquid that has a flavor you like. Of course the easiest thing to do it just go with a different recipe. There are so many to choose from which do NOT have alcohol.