Ingredients
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1 pound dates
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2 tablespoons dark rum
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2 pounds red and green candied cherries
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1 pound candied pineapple
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6 cups pecans, roughly chopped
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4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
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3 teaspoons baking soda
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3 tablespoons milk
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¼ cup shortening (such as Crisco®)
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1 cup white sugar
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4 large eggs, at room temperature
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1 tablespoon orange juice
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1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
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1 pinch kosher salt
Directions
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The day before: chop dates into small pieces and put in a glass bowl. Add rum. Cover with plastic wrap. Let sit for 8 hours, or overnight, to absorb the rum. You can leave this step out if you want but I find it makes the dates more delicious and the cookies have more flavor.
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Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
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Dice candied cherries and pineapple into small pieces and place in a very large bowl; I use the top of my cake carrier. Add pecans, followed by dates. Add 1 cup flour. Toss well to coat all of the pieces and break them up so they are not sticking together.
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Whisk baking soda into the milk and let it dissolve.
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Mix shortening into the fruit. Add remaining flour, sugar, eggs, orange juice, nutmeg, salt, and milk-baking soda mixture. Mix together with your hands just until you no longer see the flour. Try not to overmix. The batter will be very dense.
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Use a small ice cream scoop or two teaspoons to drop the cookies onto the prepared pans, about 1 inch apart.
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Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool on wire cooling racks.
Cook's Note:
The dark rum is optional, but you need to up the orange juice if you omit.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
| 183 | Calories |
| 8g | Fat |
| 27g | Carbs |
| 2g | Protein |
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings Per Recipe 72 | |
| Calories 183 | |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Total Fat 8g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol 10mg | 3% |
| Sodium 75mg | 3% |
| Total Carbohydrate 27g | 10% |
| Dietary Fiber 2g | 6% |
| Total Sugars 18g | |
| Protein 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin C 0mg | 0% |
| Calcium 13mg | 1% |
| Iron 1mg | 4% |
| Potassium 95mg | 2% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.
(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.
