Chewy Fruitcake Cookies Made with Cake Mix
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A quick and easy 5 ingredient recipe, our Fruitcake Cookies made with cake mix are sure to be a family favorite. It’s a unique twist on the traditional holiday dessert that will have your friends and family asking for more.
Combining the rich flavors of traditional fruitcake in a cookie form and using a boxed cake mix, it’s easier than ever to whip up a batch of these delightful Christmas cookies.
The dough is loaded with dried fruits, creating a chewy and flavorful cookie. And it’s made with just a few simple ingredients, like these 3 ingredient butter cookies.
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We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
When you think of baking cookies, I know that cake mix doesn’t usually come to mind. However, I decided to switch it up because the holiday season can be hectic! When using a boxed mix, these easy holiday cookies are ready from start to finish in about 35 minutes!
Sometimes fruitcake gets a bad rap. But even if some in your family aren’t fans, this cake mix cookie recipe just might change their mind.
And the candied fruits add pops of color that bring in all of the holiday spirit.
If you like easy cookie recipes, you should try our white chocolate peanut butter cookies and strawberry jam cookies. They’re a big hit here at home and during the holiday season!
And if you’re attending a holiday cookie exchange this season or need an edible gift for neighbors, teachers, or co-workers, these delicious cookies are the best!
What is Candied Fruit
It’s fruit that has been cooked in a sugar syrup and then dried. This process preserves the fruit by replacing the moisture in the fruit with sugar, which acts as a preservative.
The most common fruits used are orange peel, lemon peel, dates, red and green cherries and diced pineapple. They’re often used in classic holiday recipes like fruitcakes and panettone and can be found in the baking aisle of your local grocery store.
Cake Mix Fruitcake Cookies Ingredients
- Boxed white cake mix – can also use a yellow mix
- Vegetable oil
- Candied fruit mix
- Eggs – room temperature
- Rum extract – a crucial part of the classic fruitcake flavor
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make Fruitcake Cookies with Cake Mix
Line your baking sheet with either a baking mat or parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
While the oven preheats, combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, and extract into a large bowl. Don’t worry, the dough is supposed to be thick.
Gently fold in the candied fruit.
Using a cookie scoop, add the dough to the prepared baking sheet, leaving an inch in between each one. If you don’t have a cookie scoop, use a spoon. Just try to make sure they are as close in size as possible.
Allow them to bake for about 7 minutes. It’s really important you don’t overcook these! They should be very lightly golden brown on top.
Once they are finished cooking, let them rest on the pan, but off of the stove, for at least 10 minutes before serving.
Tips for Making This Recipe
- Make sure your eggs are at room temperature before making the batter.
- Want the candied fruit to stand out a bit more? After scooping your cookie dough onto the pan, top each cookie with a few pieces of candied fruit before baking.
- I only put 8 cookies on the cookie sheet so they bake more evenly. You can add more, but you may need to cook them 2-3 minutes longer.
- Take care not to overbake the cookies.
- Do not try to pick up the cookies straight out of the oven or they will fall apart. Letting them sit for a few minutes allows the cookies to firm up and finish the cooking process.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- This recipe works with either a yellow cake mix or a white cake mix.
- Want a stronger rum flavor? Double the extract amount.
- Like candied fruit? Double the amount!
- Add mini chocolate chips or chopped nuts for added texture and flavor.
How to Store Fruit Cake Cookies
Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
These chewy cookies are delicious on their own, but they also pair well with a cup of hot tea or coffee. For a festive holiday dessert tray, serve them alongside other baked treats like gingerbread cookies or sugar cookies.
Your friends and family are sure to love these unique and flavorful cookies. And you’ll love them because they’re easy to make and are a festive addition to your holiday gatherings.
More Easy Holiday Treat Recipes…
Fruitcake Cookies Made With Cake Mix
Ingredients
- 16.25 ounce boxed white cake mix
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup candied fruit mix
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- ½ teaspoon rum extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a baking mat or parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, thoroughly mix together the cake mix, oil, eggs, and extract. The dough will be thick.
- Fold in the candied fruit.
- Using a scoop to portion the dough, place the dough balls on the tray, leaving at least an inch in between each one.
- Bake for 7 minutes or until very lightly golden brown on the top.
- Remove the tray from the oven and allow the cookies to rest for about 10 minutes before removing from the tray.
Notes
- Substitute a yellow cake mix for the white one if preferred.
- If you want the candied fruit to be more prominent, top each cookie dough ball with a few pieces of candied fruit before baking.
- If you don’t have a cookie scoop you can use a spoon – just make sure the dough balls are equally sized for even baking.
- I usually bake 8 cookies on a sheet for this recipe so they bake more evenly. If you decide to put more on the tray you may need to cook them 2-3 minutes longer.
- Do not remove the cookies from the pan straight out of the oven or they will fall apart. Letting them sit for a few minutes allows them to firm up and finish the cooking process.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
very moist and lovely cookie
So glad you liked it, Peggy!