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Yummy Pecan and Cherry Cookie Recipe

When the kids get in from school they really need something to fill them up and let them last till dinner time. That’s when the homemade cookies come out of the tin and the kids pick one with a drink to settle down before homework starts. These delicious and yummy pecans and cherry cookies are perfect to make up a batch and then give the kids I’ve even been known to sneak one into their lunch boxes for a special treat. So here we go our Yummy Pecan and Cherry Cookies or as my kids call them Mums Fruitcake Cookies!

tray of after school cookies text reading Yummy After School Cherry and Pecan Cookies
Delicious and easy to make cherry and pecan cookies or Mums Fruitcake cookies for kids.

After School Cherry and Pecan Cookie Recipe

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I love how simple this cookie recipe is!

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Although we made this batch with Glace Cherries you can switch out the pecans and the cherries for other nuts and fruit if you wish.

soft and chewy fruitcake cookies on a grey tray
These soft and chewy cookies are a perfect after school treat for the kids to fill them up and provide them energy whilst they do their homework.

In fact, when I make them for the school lunch boxes I ditch the nuts altogether and load it full of dried mixed fruit with candied peel, raisins, sultanas and cherries all mixed together.

cherry and pecan cookies on a grey baking tray
Cherry and Pecan Cookies in a tray – ready for the kids to enjoy with homework

Watch our Fruitcake Cookies Video

The best Cookie Making Equipment

So, I will admit for years I was a disaster making cookies but in the last couple of years, I’ve got better and better.

With a recipe like this one – I’ve tried using spoons but I’ve found that the BEST way for you to do it is portion out the cookie dough is using a scoop!

Cookie dough portioned out on a baking tray
Cookie dough portions using a cookie scoop on parchment paper.

Now you can buy a professional cookie scoop but, your ice-cream scoop does just as well, although I can’t guarantee that all of your cookies will be the same size as with the cookie scoop!

baked cookies on a parchment lined cookie sheet
Baked pecan and fruit cookies on a cookie sheet ready to slide off to cool

Also using a proper cookie sheet makes a difference than a baking tray. The cookie sheet is completely flat so when you cook the cookies you have a much more flat bottom. It also helps to slide the cookies off.

cherry and pecan cookies on a grey baking tray

Fruitcake Cookie Recipe

Cerys Parker
Chewy fruitcake cookies ideal for after school for the kids and you. Delicious and easy to make.
No ratings yet
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Refrigeration Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 18 minutes
Course Cookies
Cuisine American
Servings 30 Cookies

Equipment

  • Electric Mixer
  • Cookie Sheet

Ingredients
  

  • 95 g shortening Trex or Crisco in the UK
  • 200 g soft brown sugar
  • 1 egg medium
  • 60 ml whole milk
  • 225 g plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 125 g pecans mix of chopped and whole ideally
  • 150 g chopped glace cherries

Instructions
 

  • Place the shortening and soft brown sugar in a large bowl and combine with an electric mixer until light and creamy.
  • Add the egg and milk, and mix to combine thoroughly.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt.
  • Add half the dry ingredients into the shortening mixture, mix together, then add the remaining half and mix until combined. Do not overmix.
  • Fold in the pecans and chopped glace cherries.
  • Use a small ice cream scoop to portion out the cookie dough and then refrigerate them on a baking sheet for at least 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 200C and remove the cookie dough from the fridge.
  • Space the cookies 5cm apart on a greaseproof paper, lined cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.
  • Allow cookies to cool for one minute on the cookie sheet before moving to a cooling rack.
Keyword after school cookies, cookie recipes, Fruitcake recipes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Where can you get Shortening in the UK to use in this After School Cookie Recipe

The recipe calls for Shortening – for years I was confused by this and not sure what to use in the UK. But I’ve discovered it’s Trex or Crisco both available in the supermarkets here. A little different than lard but found in the same section of the chill cabinets.

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cherry and pecan cookies with text reading delicious chewy and easy cherry and pecan cookies
Yummy Cookies that kids will love for after school treats.

One Comment

  1. These look delicious! I will give them a go as they look fairly easy to make and I am far from Nigella in the kitchen!

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