Fiesta Cookies

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Fiesta Cookies

December 20, 2011 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

I created this festive shortbread cookie to use up the dried fruit and nuts leftover from our other baking projects. It’s a quick and easy recipe to make in the food processor, and an ideal last minute Christmas gift.

Feel free to use whatever ingredients you have on hand – the cookies above were loaded with Callebaut 70% dark chocolate callets, candied orange rind, cranberries, brazil nuts, currants, dried figs and glacé apricots.

Our second batch (below) included red and green glacé cherries, dark chocolate, glacé apricots, candied peel, walnuts, almonds, cranberries and dried blueberries…

Fiesta Cookies
(An original Fig Jam and Lime Cordial recipe)

250g (1 cup) unsalted butter, chopped
250g (8½oz) mixed dried fruit and nuts, chopped
150g (5½oz) dark chocolate chips (70% cacao)
300g (2 cups) plain (AP) flour
110g (½ cup) white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder

1. In a large food processor, combine the butter, flour, sugar and baking powder. Pulse until combined and starting to form a ball.

2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the fruit, nuts and chocolate chips. Tip the dough into the mixing bowl and work the mixture together with a clean hand.

3. Divide the dough in two, and shape each portion into a log, approximately 5cm (2″) in diameter. Wrap each log in parchment paper and chill in the fridge for a couple of hours.

4. Preheat oven to 175C (350F) with fan. Remove the logs from the fridge and slice into 1½ cm (½”) cookies, then lay them out on parchment lined trays, allowing a little room for spreading. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes until lightly golden. Rest the cookies on the trays briefly before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe

Posted in Recipes | Tagged Christmas cookies, Christmas shortbread recipe, last minute baked gifts | 51 Comments

51 Responses

on December 20, 2011 at 12:05 am thecompletecookbook

I shall call these Celia’s fiesta aka Christmas cookies!
:-) Mandy
- on December 20, 2011 at 1:43 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Mandy! They were fun to make! :)
on December 20, 2011 at 12:31 am emily @ wellcookedlife.com

I will be making these with all my leftover sliced almonds and apricots and sour dried cherries. Thanks, Celia!
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:11 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Emily, that sounds like a lovely combination! I don’t think we have sour dried cherries here! :)
on December 20, 2011 at 1:02 am Lizzy (Good Things)

A great idea and i bet great tasting too. Thanks so much for sharing!
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:12 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Lizzy! Hope you’re having a fun Christmas week!
on December 20, 2011 at 1:19 am Suelle

I don’t think of using up dried fruit and nuts at this time of year, as they are more seasonal here, but these cookies would be a good excuse to clear out and refresh the storecupboard sometime!
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:13 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Suelle, I only made one batch of mini Christmas cakes this year, plus some spiced nuts, so there was a fair bit leftover. It must be nice to have fresh berries in season at Christmas!
on December 20, 2011 at 1:38 am Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide

It’s a party in my mouth and those cookies are invited. Hmm, should probably just say delicious.
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:13 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Greg, I’m sure the cookies would love to party with you.. ;-)
on December 20, 2011 at 1:53 am ceciliag

I love how this was begun in the food processor, i never thought to do that! clever.. c
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:14 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Celi, I was chuffed how well they turned out. Often when I make up recipes they can be…um..interesting.. ;-)
on December 20, 2011 at 1:59 am theonlycin

Erm … you got my postal address … right???
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:14 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Yes dear. They’re on their way.. ;-)
on December 20, 2011 at 2:49 am sallybr

Beautiful cookies, so appropriate for the season! I made shortbread cookies for the first time a couple of weeks ago, they are fun to make, I see more in my future

I did not use the food processor, should try it next time with it
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:15 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sally, I’d had the food processor out for vanilla sugar, so it was easy just to whiz everything up in it. Pete thinks they taste like very Christmassy.. :)
on December 20, 2011 at 3:18 am Joanna

….still dreaming she emerged from the foret du chocolat and whirled straight into a fiesta of twinkling fruits and nuts, paused for a cup of frothing hot chocolate, turned over…. And woke all of a sudden to the grey light of England in December. Damn I wish I could go to the beach with you guys xx
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:16 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Darling, I wish you were here, but I never, ever, go to the beach in summer. Too much sand and stickiness for me! Mind you, we’ve been known to fly a kite or two on the beach in winter!
on December 20, 2011 at 5:28 am frugalfeeding

These look beautiful! Love the name too :D
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:17 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks FF! I never did get around the mincemeat, maybe next year…
on December 20, 2011 at 5:41 am C

Great idea Celia – they look very festive and would be a perfect way to brighten up one of the dull, cold, rainy afternoons we’re having at the moment.
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:17 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  C, I’m sorry the weather is gloomy for you – hope you get some sunshine soon!
on December 20, 2011 at 7:02 am Platanos, Mangoes and Me!

They are festive looking and a good way to use up leftover goodies. Ole!
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:17 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Norma! The nice thing is that they’re a little bit different each time!
on December 20, 2011 at 8:06 am InTolerant Chef

Great way to use up all the yummy bits and pieces left over, they look so nice and dunkable too Celia, yummo!
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:18 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Dunkable, yes, that’s the right word, Becca! Hope you’re on the mend, love.. xx
on December 20, 2011 at 8:07 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

I can see why you call them fiesta cookies… it’s a party on a plate! So simple and look so delicious. I love any recipe that uses up leftovers too.
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:19 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Claire, you and me both! I can’t bear to waste, so I’m always saving little bags of dried fruit and nuts in the fridge – this was the perfect way to use them all up!
on December 20, 2011 at 8:19 am Amanda

Good girl, Celia – you managed to get some choc chips into them! I’m proud of you.
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:19 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Amanda, what sort of party would it be without chocolate? :)
on December 20, 2011 at 8:48 am Elaine

Look wonderful Celia!

From time to time I have a glut of fruit, if you would like some?
The next crop will be white figs; white adriatic and white genoa.
Adriatic is great fresh, I think genoa is best dried.
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:20 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Elaine, that’s very kind, thank you, but we usually have more fruit than we can manage here, particularly figs! The neighbour has two huge old trees which keep us in black and green figs in season. Hope you have a wonderful crop! :)
on December 20, 2011 at 12:22 pm cityhippyfarmgirl

I agree with Intolerant Chef, completely dunkable!
- on December 20, 2011 at 3:21 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Brydie! We’ve been serving them with hot tea.. :)
on December 20, 2011 at 3:29 pm Debra Kolkka

What a good idea. Trust you to come up with it!
- on December 21, 2011 at 8:12 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Deb! :) Merry Christmas! xx
on December 20, 2011 at 10:43 pm Sally

These look like they are studded with jewels. Have a wonderful festive season Celia. Looking forward to all that 2012 brings.
- on December 21, 2011 at 8:14 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Sally, best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and New Year! I’m sure 2012 will be exciting for all of us.. xx
on December 21, 2011 at 1:05 am Deeba Rajpal (@vindee)

What a great idea…and novel too. I love how plump and decadent they look! Happy holidays!!
- on December 21, 2011 at 8:14 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Deeba, thanks for stopping by! Happy holidays to you too! :)
on December 21, 2011 at 5:33 am Christine

Clever cookie! (So sorry, just couldn’t resist). A fabulous way to use up the fruity leftovers….and I concur..so completely dunkable! :)
- on December 21, 2011 at 8:16 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Christine! Sounds like you’ve been having fun this festive season! :) All the best for a wonderful Christmas and New Year!
on December 21, 2011 at 6:56 am teawithhazel

perfect with my morning cup of tea celia..oh well.. i can only dream..
- on December 21, 2011 at 8:17 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jane, they’re easy to make! Have a great festive season! :)
on December 21, 2011 at 8:02 am Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella

You really do come up with the most creative ways to use up things! I’m treasuring my vanilla sugar! :D
- on December 21, 2011 at 8:17 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Thanks Lorraine! Don’t hoard that vanilla sugar, I can always make you more.. :D
on December 21, 2011 at 10:58 am Jacqueline

These sound awesome and a great way to use up the whiskey-soaked fruit that didn’t make it into the Christmas cake. About how long do they last after baking?
- on December 21, 2011 at 8:18 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Jacqueline, I just tend to eat any leftover soaked fruit… ;-)
  
  We’ve had ours in the cookie jar now for nearly two weeks, and they’ve been fine. Our fruit wasn’t soaked though – don’t know if that will make a difference?
on December 21, 2011 at 4:56 pm Winston

Oh woow seriously… So colourful, so festive! SO perfect for this Christmas! I am still really green and new at baking but this doesn’t look too hard to try. Thank you! =)
- on December 21, 2011 at 8:18 pm Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial
  
  Winston, thanks for stopping by! These are really easy! :)
on December 21, 2011 at 11:43 pm heidi

Beautiful cookies, Celia!
It is great what you’ve done with leftover dibs and dabs!
Merry Christmas!