Aunt Bert's Fruitcake Cookies

Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Servings: 70
Yield: 70 servings

Description

Like bite-size rich fruitcakes, this big batch of Christmas cookies is loaded with bourbon-soaked dried fruit, candied fruit, and pecans.

Ingredients

1 pound white raisins
1 pound red and green candied cherries, chopped
1 pound dates, pitted and chopped
6 slices candied pineapple, chopped
1 cup bourbon whiskey, divided, or as needed
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
28 ounces pecans, chopped
3 cups self-rising flour

Directions

1 Gather all ingredients. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
2 Place raisins, candied cherries, dates, and candied pineapple in a bowl; stir in 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey; set aside to soak.
3 Beat butter and brown sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
4 Beat one egg at a time into the butter mixture; beat in vanilla extract and cinnamon with last egg.
5 Stir pecans and fruit mixture into butter mixture; stir in self-rising flour alternately with remaining bourbon whiskey as needed to form a soft dough.
6 Drop tablespoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
7 Bake in the preheated oven just until cookies begin to look dry, about 30 minutes.
8 Cool cookies on a wire rack; store in a sealed container lined with waxed paper.