Glazed Fruit And Nut Cluster Christmas Cookies
From your next door neighbor to Santa himself, who wouldn’t love a plate of homemade cookies. Why not bake a batch of glazed fruit and nut clusters, sugar cookies, gingerbread people or other sweet treats as ‘thank you”gifts for people like your mail carrier, hair stylist or delivery person.
When we lived in New England, my next door neighbor and her daughter would spend days baking batches of cookies. Shortly before Christmas, my friendr would send her daughter over with a large platter plied high with all kinds of Christmas cookies, wrapped in cellophane and a ribbon.“Merry Christmas, enjoy the cookies and keep the platter, it is our gift to you”, she would say. The cookies were always delicious but what I enjoyed more was the time they spent making a homemade gift. Last year another dear friend brought me an adorable Christmas platter called The Giving Plate filled with delicious cookies. It is extra special now that she has moved away.
Perhaps baking sweet treats as “thank you” gifts isn’t as popular as it used to be but receiving a plate or a box of homemade Christmas cookies always makes me smile. There are so many amazing recipes from bakers around the world to choose from that it can be hard to pick just a few. With the hope that you are not too busy to do a little holiday baking, I’m going to share the recipe for my favorite Christmas cookie. Mostly fruit and nuts, these cookies make excellent gifts, freeze well and they can be easily packed and shipped. They are delicious whether left plain or glazed and have become a holiday tradition in our home. And of course, they are not just for Christmas but good anytime of the year
Glazed Fruit and Nut Clusters
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Makes about 3 – 5 dozen cookies depending on size.
- 1/3 c. rum * See note below
- 1/2 c. golden raisins
- 1/2 c. dried cherries, cranberries or orange flavored Craisins
- 1 c. dried apricots, chopped in small pieces
- 3/4 c. packed brown sugar
- 1/2 c. butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp. ginger
- 2 c. flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- 1 c. chopped pecans or other nuts
- 2 c. powdered sugar
- 2 – 3 Tbsp. rum
- 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
Mix the fruit and the 1/3 cup of rum in a bowl and let marinate for an hour or more, the longer the better. Cream together the brown sugar, butter, eggs and spices. Drain the rum from the fruit and add it to the sugar mixture and stir. Mix in the flour and baking powder. Stir in the reserved fruit and nuts.
Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls onto a Silpat or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake about 10 – 12 minutes or until the cookies are light brown. Remove from the oven and place cookies on cooling rack.
Make a glaze for the cookies by mixing the powdered sugar, rum and vanilla extract together until smooth. Dip the tops of the cookies into glaze and let dry.
Your favorite combination of dried fruits and nuts can be substituted.
You can asp use apple brandy, spiced rum, Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur as a substitute for the rum for a slightly different flavor.
For a non alcoholic version, you can use apple juice.
notes from the kitchen
****
I recently read a list of Christmas cookies you should never bring to a party and while these glazed fruit and nut clusters were not on the list many of my personal favorites were. Just so you know, I’ll always be very happy with a plate of homemake Christmas cookies of any kind from my friends.
They all look so yummy.
I always make gingerbread shapes with the grandsons and they love decorating them and we give a few to family and friends. Wishing you a very happy Christmas, Karen!
Such a delicious and lovely idea!
This is the cookie for me Karen, filled with boozy fruit! Even just a bit of rum imparts such nice flavor.
I LOVE the giving plate!
These sound like fruitcake Karen! How yummy and the plate is wonderful, are you going to pass it on?
Jenna
These cookie clusters sound and look fabulous! Love the cute holiday plate.
angiesrecipes
http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com
These cookie clusters sound and look fabulous! Love the cute holiday plate.
angiesrecipes
http://angiesrecipes.blogspot.com
I have always loved your cookie posts, not only the cookie recipes but the stories that come with them. What a beautiful tradition you have and I too love “The Giving Plate”!
The cookies look very tasty and the addition of a little rum – yum! And I think those giving plates are such a sweet gift!
Hi Karen,
I love the idea of the giving platter. What a wonderful sentiment.
These nut and fruit cookies would be a great addition to any cookie platter.
I enjoy giving homemade cookies as a gift year round! 🙂
I will be making these this year, Karen. Thanks so much. I always have some girlfriends over for tea and baking. These will be on the plate this year.
Any home baked cookie is a great idea as far as I am concerned. These sound delicious. I have been collecting ingredients for baking. Love the plate and sentiment. Rum cake is a family favorite.
I’m going to try these, but will have to substitute something for the nuts because family members have nut allergies. I am definitely with you about sincerely appreciating a gift of home made cookies. To me, home made cookies are at the top of my list of great gifts. Happy Holidays.
A fruit cake in cookie form 🙂
I love ‘The Giving Plate’ and that is a wonderful idea. The cookies look delicious, Karen!
What a wonderful treat for the holidays. Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.
What a lovely platter, but especially when it’s filled with cookies! I feel like I could justify eating these for breakfast too. They’re really just fruit and nuts. 😉
I love this recipe! It’s right up my non-baking alley!
Such a wonderful cookie Karen, a mini fruitcake in cookie form. Love the idea of the Giving plate. Merry Christmas🎄
A wonderful cookie Karen in a mini fruitcake form. I love the idea of the Giving plate. Any homemade cookie is welcome in my home. Merry Christmas
I love all the ingredients in these festive cookies! I also love the flexibility.
Thanks for this recipe. It is a keeper.
What a truly lovely idea and I love the idea of that platter going and collecting stories of new owners 🙂 There’s nothing like home baked cookies.
Love this delicious cookie – Karen, for sure adding the rum. Loaded with fruits, spices and nuts – perfect with an after dinner drink or coffee.
I really love getting homemade cookies at Christmastime. I agree with you that it’s the effort that makes the gift particularly meaningful. I will love these cookies, Karen. I’m the one (the only one) in the family who loves fruit cake and I sure don’t go to that trouble when no one will join me! But I do think these cookies, with rum, certainly, are jewels! I’m delighted, my friend.
Admittedly, I love baking cookies year-round. But you’re right — there is something extra special about taking the time and effort to do it during the holiday season to offer up a sweet-as-can-be gesture to those you love and care about. Happy holidays to you!
Admittedly, I love baking cookies year-round. But you’re right that it’s especially wonderful to take the time and effort to do it during the holidays. It makes for the sweetest-as-can-be gesture for those you love and care for. Happy holidays!
Wait. There are cookies you’re not supposed to bring to a Christmas party? I find that suspicious as I welcome any and all cookies!! I’ve never had anything quite like these fruit + nut cookies, and they sound absolutely delicious. Santa would approve!
They sound delicious and I love that plate Karen. What a wonderful idea! A friend and I used to give each other cookies each Christmas in a special biscuit tin, which went back and forth between us for years! But we don’t bake these days… too many calories I’m afraid.
This really looks like an old fashioned cookie and I love it. It is so festive with all of the glazed fruit and nuts. The flavours must bring you back to a simpler time. I just love that plate too. I used to do a lot of baking preceding Christmas but with everyone watching sugar and carbs I stopped doing it. Now I wish I had more time left for baking but unfortunately, our days and nights are booked solid.
These look delicious, Karen! We’re always looking for cookies like these to share and for ones that will travel well too. I can’t believe there are cookies on a do not bring list. That is bananas! Love the idea of a giving plate. Truly, that’s what the holiday season is all about! Hugs, CoCo
Thank you for the wonderful recipe, Karen! Home made cookies are the best. 🙂
I’m curious about the list of never-bring cookies! What could that be about?
Your friend sounds very creative with the cookie plate. I just read about someone who buys appealing platters at thrift shops to use for Christmas cookie giving.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Your cookies look delicious!! The dried fruits make them especially fitting for the holidays. I love the personal touch of giving and receiving homemade baked goods.
Your cookies look delicious!! The dried fruits make them especially fitting for the holidays. I love the personal touch of giving and receiving homemade baked goods.
I love the idea of giving a platter as a gift, with the cookies as the extra bonus! Lovely recipe Karen 🙂
happily people here still bake christmas treats and pass them around. such a lovely festive idea!
I am a sucker for glazed cookies! I’m not sure why, but it just makes them so much more special. I love these fruit and nut clusters, too — honestly, they are even a bit healthy! Merry Christmas, Karen, and all the best to you for a happy, love-filled, and HEALTHY New Year!
This is like plum pudding in a cookie version. The nuts I really like. Also, I read your beautiful plate. Amazing!
Packed with richness, these cookies are perfect for Christmas!
Your cookies sound fabulous, Karen, and would be very welcome in our house. If I make them I won’t add the glaze. That platter is such a beautiful thought. All the very best to you and yours.
Cookie Clusters with rum, yum! I love the concept of the giving plate. I am headed to Amazon to see if they have something similar. Thank you
There’s just something extra special about receiving a plate of homemade cookies. They’re more than just a treat; they’re a gesture of love and thoughtfulness.