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.
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
I shall call these Celia’s fiesta aka Christmas cookies!
:-) Mandy
Thanks Mandy! They were fun to make! :)
I will be making these with all my leftover sliced almonds and apricots and sour dried cherries. Thanks, Celia!
Emily, that sounds like a lovely combination! I don’t think we have sour dried cherries here! :)
A great idea and i bet great tasting too. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks Lizzy! Hope you’re having a fun Christmas week!
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!
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!
It’s a party in my mouth and those cookies are invited. Hmm, should probably just say delicious.
Greg, I’m sure the cookies would love to party with you.. ;-)
I love how this was begun in the food processor, i never thought to do that! clever.. c
Thanks Celi, I was chuffed how well they turned out. Often when I make up recipes they can be…um..interesting.. ;-)
Erm … you got my postal address … right???
Yes dear. They’re on their way.. ;-)
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
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.. :)
….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
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!
These look beautiful! Love the name too :D
Thanks FF! I never did get around the mincemeat, maybe next year…
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.
C, I’m sorry the weather is gloomy for you – hope you get some sunshine soon!
They are festive looking and a good way to use up leftover goodies. Ole!
Thanks Norma! The nice thing is that they’re a little bit different each time!
Great way to use up all the yummy bits and pieces left over, they look so nice and dunkable too Celia, yummo!
Dunkable, yes, that’s the right word, Becca! Hope you’re on the mend, love.. xx
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.
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!
Good girl, Celia – you managed to get some choc chips into them! I’m proud of you.
Amanda, what sort of party would it be without chocolate? :)
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.
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! :)
I agree with Intolerant Chef, completely dunkable!
Thanks Brydie! We’ve been serving them with hot tea.. :)
What a good idea. Trust you to come up with it!
Thanks Deb! :) Merry Christmas! xx
These look like they are studded with jewels. Have a wonderful festive season Celia. Looking forward to all that 2012 brings.
Sally, best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and New Year! I’m sure 2012 will be exciting for all of us.. xx
What a great idea…and novel too. I love how plump and decadent they look! Happy holidays!!
Deeba, thanks for stopping by! Happy holidays to you too! :)
Clever cookie! (So sorry, just couldn’t resist). A fabulous way to use up the fruity leftovers….and I concur..so completely dunkable! :)
Thanks Christine! Sounds like you’ve been having fun this festive season! :) All the best for a wonderful Christmas and New Year!
perfect with my morning cup of tea celia..oh well.. i can only dream..
Jane, they’re easy to make! Have a great festive season! :)
You really do come up with the most creative ways to use up things! I’m treasuring my vanilla sugar! :D
Thanks Lorraine! Don’t hoard that vanilla sugar, I can always make you more.. :D
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?
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?
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! =)
Winston, thanks for stopping by! These are really easy! :)
Beautiful cookies, Celia!
It is great what you’ve done with leftover dibs and dabs!
Merry Christmas!