Fruit, Nut, and Chocolate Cookies

By Mark -

I was going to make simple chocolate chip cookies, then decided to add some dried apricots.  Cutting the apricots into small bits with a knife was tedious, so I experimented with other techniques.  Along the way, I started adding other ingredients.  After weeks of experimentation, I settled on this recipe as my favorite version.

I found the dried apricots, dates, and mango at Costco.  They don't always have them in stock, so get them when they're available.  They're very good quality and also make excellent snacks by themselves!

It may seem odd to use butter with butter flavored shortening, but this really gives it the best combination of flavor and texture, in my opinion.

While the cookies are good warm, I prefer them cold.  After they're cooled enough to hold their shape, I bag them and stick them in the freezer.  They stay fresh for a long time that way.

Feel free to make substitutions.  For example, you can use pecans instead of almonds, dried figs (stems removed) instead of dried dates, or regular shortening instead of butter flavored.  It's even good with some German's Chocolate chopped up along with the fruit and nuts.

Fruit, Nut, and Chocolate Cookies

2 eggs
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
120 grams almonds
80 grams dried apricots
55 grams dried pitted dates
40 grams dried mango
300 grams flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons vanilla
200 grams old fashioned rolled oats
300 grams semi-sweet chocolate chips
125 grams raisins

Preheat oven to 350 (with convection, if available).

Beat the butter, shortening, sugar, and molasses together until well combined.  Add the eggs and continue to beat until light in color.

Use a food processor to chop the almonds, apricots, dates, and mango together until the largest bits are a bit larger than sesame seeds.  (You could chop up the raisins along with the other dried fruit, but I prefer to add them whole as part of the next step.)

Add the fruit and nut mixture to the egg, butter, and sugar mixture.  Add all remaining ingredients and mix until well combined.

Use a 1 1/2 tablespoon disher (#40) to portion dough onto baking sheets.

Bake for 9-11 minutes.  Makes 4 1/2 dozen.


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