Fruitcake Shortbread Recipes

FRUITCAKE SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, confectioners sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth.
• Add flour and mix until the flour is incorporated and the shortbread dough has a crumbly appearance.
• Mix in the mixed peel or fruitcake blend until evenly distributed in your shortbread dough.
• Transfer the fruitcake shortbread dough to a sheet of parchment paper or plastic cling film wrap and gather the loose dough into a rough log shape.
• Wrap the paper around the log shape tightly and use it to help roll the log out into your desired length and width. Unwrap and re-wrap tightly. Transfer to your refrigerator to chill for about 30 minutes.
• Once the dough is firm to the touch, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F ( 175 degrees C ). Remove the dough from the refrigerator and slice using a sharp knife ( to cut through the fruit easily ). Slices should be approximately 1/4 inch in thickness.
• Transfer slices to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees F ( 175 degrees C ) for 10-12 minutes. The cookies are done when the center is slightly puffy. You should also be able to note the difference when the center no longer looks raw.
• Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on the baking sheet placed on a wire cooling rack. *Shortbread cookies are tender and prone to falling apart while still warm!

FRUITCAKE SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Sift together flour and salt into a medium bowl. Beat butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Add sugar gradually, beating between additions; continue to beat until mixture is very pale, about 2 minutes total. Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture; beat until just combined.
• Combine apricots, cranberries, candied citron, currants, and whiskey or brandy in a bowl. Let dried fruit macerate at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours; drain.
• Add lemon zest to the butter with the sugar. After beating in the flour, mix in drained fruit. Form dough into a 10 1/2-inch log, then a triangle with 2 1/2-inch sides. (Refrigerate dough briefly if too soft to form.) Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour; cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices.
• Bake on parchment-lined baking sheets until firm and just golden on edges, about 35 minutes.

FRUITCAKE COOKIES

Steps:

• 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 over mix! 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.