Best Georges Fruit Cookies Recipes

GOUGERES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a small mixing bowl, add the grated cheese and plenty of freshly cracked black pepper to the half-recipe of pate a choux. With a rubber spatula, scoop the pate a choux into the pastry bag and pipe out approximately 25 (1-inch) rounds, spaced 1 to 2 inches apart on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Brush lightly with the beaten egg and place in the oven. Cook until golden and puffed, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool briefly on a baking rack. Serve hot or at room temperature.
• In a small saucepan over high heat, bring the water, salt, sugar, and butter to a boil, making sure the butter is completely melted. Off the heat, add the flour all at once and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon. Return to the heat and continue beating until the dough forms a solid, smooth mass and pulls away from the sides of the saucepan. Take off the heat and empty the dough into a clean mixing bowl. Little by little add the beaten eggs, beating vigorously in between each addition, until the dough forms a smooth, supple mass. Divide the dough into 2 even quantities, 1 part to be used for the gougeres, the other for profiteroles.

GRANDMA MILLSPAUGH'S FRUIT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the butter with the brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy and beat in the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the raisins, the chopped currants, the cloves, and the cinnamon and beat the mixture until it is combined well. Dissolve the baking soda in the buttermilk or water, add the mixture to the fruit mixture, and beat the mixture until it is combined well. Into a bowl sift together the flour and the baking powder, add the flour mixture to the fruit mixture, and beat the dough until it is combined well. Chill the dough, covered, for 1 hour, or until it is firm. The dough may be made 1 week in advance and kept covered tightly and chilled.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Roll rounded teaspoons of the dough into balls, arrange the balls about 1 inch apart on lightly greased baking sheets, and with the flat bottom of a glass dipped in the granulated sugar, flatten the balls into 1 1/2 rounds. Press a whole currant lightly into the center of each round and bake the cookies in batches in the middle of the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are golden. Transfer the cookies to racks and let them cool. The cookies may be made 2 months in advance and kept frozen in airtight containers.

FRUITCAKE COOKIES

Steps:

• Snip off the hard stems of the figs with scissors or a small knife and coarsely chop the figs. In a medium bowl, combine the figs, raisins, cherries, apricots, honey, sherry, lemon juice, pecans, and a pinch of salt. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit overnight at room temperature.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, cloves, superfine sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the egg and mix until incorporated. With the mixer still on low, slowly add the flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt just until combined. Don't over mix! Add the fruits and nuts, including any liquid in the bowl.
• Divide the dough in half and place each half on the long edge of a 12 by 18-inch piece of parchment or waxed paper. Roll each half into a log, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4-inch thick, making an 18-inch-long roll. Refrigerate the dough for several hours, or until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• With a small, sharp knife, cut the logs into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Place the slices 1/2-inch apart on ungreased sheet pans and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly golden.

GEORGE'S FRUIT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, dissolve baking soda in warm water.
• In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and the sugar. Beat the eggs and mix in. Stir in molasses, chopped nuts, fruit cocktail, raisins and vanilla. Mix in spices, baking soda and salt. Sift the flour and stir in. Mix until well blended.
• Drop by teaspoon on a cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes.