Christmas Lizzies Food

FRUITCAKE COOKIES (CHRISTMAS LIZZIES)

Steps:

• Set the butter or margarine out to soften.
• Slice the candied cherries in half and dice the candied pineapple. Place these along with the glazed fruit mix, which should already be diced, in a bowl.
• Soak the raisins in the cherry brandy until plump, at least an hour or up to overnight.
• Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and baking soda to the flour and sift.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and prepare cookie sheets by lining with parchment paper.
• Set a stand mixer to medium speed.
• Place the softened butter in the mixing bowl and cream until fluffy.
• Once the butter is fluffy, gradually add the brown sugar until completely blended.
• Add the eggs one at a time, completely blending each egg before adding the next.
• When the eggs are completely blended, add the sifted flour and spices slowly to the butter, eggs and sugar mix. Completely blend each addition before adding the next.
• Turn off the mixer, clean off the blade. The next steps will be mixed by hand.
• Combine the soaked raisins, pecans and cut candied fruit in a bowl and mix together completely.
• In batches, add some of the raisin, nut and fruit mixture to the batter and mix with a spatula by hand until all the ingredients are completely blended before adding more.
• Continue until all the fruit and nut mixture is thoroughly combined with the batter.
• Using a kitchen teaspoon, drop the cookie batter onto the cookie sheets, keeping each cookie about 1 inch apart. The cookies should be approximately 1 inch in diameter.
• Bake in a moderate oven (325 degrees) for 10 to 15 minutes, until browned on top.
• Remove the baking sheets from the oven and cool the cookies for five minutes on the cookie sheets, then transfer the cookies to a cooling rack and allow to completely cool for at least 3 hours. Don't rush the cooling rack time of the cookie bottoms will be soggy and the cookies will be sticky.
• Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container.
• Makes about 10 dozen cookies.

CHRISTMAS LIZZIES

Steps:

• Soak fruits in bourbon at least 1 hour to plump.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
• Cream margarine or butter, gradually adding sugar and eggs. Add dry ingredients, then fruit and nuts. Mix well.
• Drop from teaspoon onto greased cookie sheets. Bake for 15 minutes. Store in an airtight container.