My daughters and I love fruitcake but don’t want to indulge too often in this rich treat (we’ve already enjoyed two good fruitcakes this season). I adapted this recipe from one found on a candied cherry container label and we thought they were really good and not quite as bad as eating a slice of fruitcake.
CANDIED CHERRY COOKIES
½ cup butter or margarine, softened
¼ cup plus 2 Tblsp. granulated sugar
¼ cup plus 2 Tblsp. packed light brown sugar
½ tsp. vanilla extract
1 egg
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 cup plus 2 Tblsp. all-purpose flour
½ cup green candied cherries, halved
½ cup red candied cherries, halved
½ cup coarsely chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
Use two ungreased cookie sheets or line with parchment paper
In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until creamy. Add vanilla and egg and beat well. Add soda and salt, blending well. Add flour and mix just until flour is absorbed. Slowly beat in cherries and pecans.
Drop by tablespoon onto cookie sheets, leaving about 2 inches between cookies.
Bake @ 375 degrees F for 9 to 12 minutes until cookies are golden brown. Remove to racks to cool.
Yield: 30 medium-sized cookies (about 2 inches diameter)
I took a bag with half of the cookies to my younger daughter’s house for lunch and later received an e-mail: “Guess who liked the cookies?”
I was surprised to learn that my 11-year-old granddaughter who doesn’t like anything had just about finished off the cookies.
Rettabug
I think I’d enjoy these MUCH better than fruitcake…NOT a fan! LOL
Thanks for the colorful & tempting recipe, Lillian.
Just wait till you see the MONOGRAMMED pizzelle iron I bought myself…can’t wait to try it out. How fun will that be to serve pizzelles with my own monogram on them??
Darlene Contadino
My sister made these every Christmas. I know what you mean about fruitcake. I have a great Kentucky Fruitcake my home always made. These days there just are not enough people to make them for, then there are the calories. This is a good subsitute
Melissa @ My Recent Favorite books
These sound so good! I enjoy fruitcake, but I havent had it in a long time.
dezertsuz
Those sound irresistible! As soon as I feel a little better, I’m going shopping and making these. They sound like just my kind of thing. I, too, love fruitcake, especially Clayton’s from Texas, and I’ve been saying no, no, no to myself for the last month! I say yes to these cookies! Thanks!
Betty Lou
Such a nice traditional Christmas cookie. Good to see the younger generation enjoying your cookies as well.
Pallas
The cookies sound and look yummy. I love fruitcake too, as did my late father in law. He and I used to share a fruitcake every holiday season, and I can’t think of fruitcake now without thinking of him with a smile.
womanseyeview
Your granddaughter has good taste in cookies – yum! Love the photo at the start of your post – it would make a great Christmas card.
kalamitykelli
I love this recipe! I have purchased those candied cherries before and have never seen that recipe – but now I have it. Pinning!!
Sheryl
These cookies look awesome. They look delicious; and, are so colorful and look like a perfect additional to a tray of Christmas cookies.
Kitty
I remember these! My grandmother used to make these but they were chocolate. Thank you so much for the memories.
Abigail @ Rosy Hill
These look delicious. I’m sure the Little Man would love to make them.