Dried Fruit Cookies

Show: Barefoot ContessaEpisode: Cooking for a Crowd

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (33)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(33)

Cook Time:
20 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
5 dozen small cookies

Times:

Prep: 30 min
Inactive Prep: 12 hr 0 min
Cook: 20 min
Total:: 12 hr 50 min

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Ingredients

1/2 pound dried figs
1/4 pound raisins
2 ounces candied cherries, coarsely chopped
2 ounces dried apricots, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
6 ounces chopped pecans
Kosher salt
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 extra-large egg
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

Snip off the hard stems of the figs with scissors or a small knife and coarsely chop the figs. In a medium bowl, combine the figs, raisins, cherries, apricots, honey, sherry, lemon juice, pecans, and a pinch of salt. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit overnight at room temperature.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, cloves, superfine sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the egg and mix until incorporated. With the mixer still on low, slowly add the flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt just until combined. Don't overmix! Add the fruits and nuts, including any liquid in the bowl. Divide the dough in half and place each half on the long edge of a 12 by 18-inch piece of parchment or waxed paper. Roll each half into a log, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4-inch thick, making an 18-inch-long roll. Refrigerate the dough for several hours, or until firm.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

With a small, sharp knife, cut the logs into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Place the slices 1/2-inch apart on ungreased sheet pans and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly golden.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Dried Fruit Cookies
null null, null 01-07-2010
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Moist and delicious
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is one of the best cookie recipes I've ever made! Everyone that I gave these cookies to, wanted the recipe. I'm the... only one in my family that likes fruit cake, but my family loves these cookies. Ina's recipes have never failed me yet. Read more
recipe Dried Fruit Cookies
Karyn Aliso Viejo, CA 12-27-2009
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My husband makes these yummy cookies!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

My husband really likes fruit cake but the rest of the family does not. I gave him this recipe last Christmas and he got rave... reviews from all. By popular demand he made them again this year and I must say they are really wonderful. Not too sweet and so buttery delish! Now a family tradition, people are requesting to take them home!Read more
recipe Dried Fruit Cookies
Denise San Francisco, CA 12-24-2009
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A new Holiday favorite
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

These cookies have gotten rave reviews from everyone I've shared them with. I use slightly less clove then called for and a... nice alternative to raisins is orange flavored dried cranberries. Read more
recipe Dried Fruit Cookies
Karen Greenville, SC 12-20-2009
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The go to Christmas cookie
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

An easy and delicious cookies recipe that tastes just like my grandma's Christmas fruit bread. These cookies are buttery... and pure in taste. I would bet you could subsitute almost any kind of dried fruit or nut and it would still taste great. Read more
recipe Dried Fruit Cookies
EVE Edwardsville, IL 12-15-2009
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Hate Regular Fruit Cake But These Are Wonderful!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Another awesome recipe from the Barefoot Contessa. I have yet to make one from her that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed. I... can't stand actual fruit cake but these are really good and definitely taste like Christmas. My only issue was rolling the dough into logs. Instead of round, they came out in a sort of tear-drop shape, but that's ok. Thanks for another great recipe!Read more
recipe Dried Fruit Cookies
Robin Marietta, GA 12-09-2009
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Excellent Cookie
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I chose to make these for a holiday party and am totally wowed by how they tasted. Wanted something less sweet than most... traditional cookies (they are) and somewhat unique. These did not disappoint! I am making more ASAP. Had to substitute dried sweetened cherries for the candied cherries since we have red dye allregies, and that seemed to work well. A few observations on baking them.... 1) you better have a strong arm if you don't have a stand mixer, 2) we had no liquid left over from the fruit and I worried, but the fruit seems plenty moist in the cookies and 3) there is no earthly reason I can see to make 18" logs out of the dough. I followed the direction exactly and ended up with two logs of dough that were nearly impossible to transport to the fridge and, once there, did not fit. Oh well, small issues compared to the excellence of the end product!Read more