Chewy Fruitcake Cookies Perfect for Holiday Sharing

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 0.5 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 0.25 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mixed dried fruits, chopped
• 0.5 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 0.5 cup shredded coconut (optional)
• 0.5 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then stir in the vanilla extract.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
5. Fold in the chopped mixed dried fruits, nuts, shredded coconut, and chocolate chips if using. Make sure the mixture is evenly distributed.
6. Use a tablespoon or cookie scoop to portion out the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie for spreading.
7. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. The centers may look slightly underbaked, which is perfect for the chewy texture.
8. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.