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Close-up of five Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookies stacked on a small, dark plate with gold trim, showcasing the chewy texture and colorful candied fruits and nuts mixed into the cookie dough.

Old Fashioned Fruitcake Cookie

Chewy, nostalgic fruitcake cookies packed with warm spices, dried fruits, nuts, and bright orange zest—perfect for holiday baking!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 29 minutes
Servings: 20 cookies
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Calories: 165
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cookie Dough
  • 1 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup mixed dried fruits raisins, cherries, apricots
  • 1/2 cup chopped dates
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • orange zest zest of 1 orange

Equipment

  • Baking Sheet
  • Mixing bowls

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Cream together softened butter and brown sugar until fluffy.
  3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until smooth.
  4. Stir in vanilla extract and orange zest.
  5. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  6. Add dry mixture to wet ingredients and mix until combined.
  7. Fold in mixed dried fruits, dates, and nuts until evenly distributed.
  8. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.
  9. Bake for 12–14 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden.
  10. Allow cookies to cool on a wire rack before serving.

Notes

These chewy, spice-filled cookies taste even better the next day as the flavors meld together.