25 Days of Cookies Day 9 - Fruitcake Jumbles + Book Review

Some bakers are a little intimidated by all of the measuring and variety of dry ingredients required when baking from scratch, others just prefer the convenience of boxed mixes... whichever you are, and even of you are usually a from scratch baker, you may want to pick up a package of cake mix and try out these yummy cookies!


The book is the The Ultimate Cake Mix Cookie Book: More Than 375 Delectable Cookie Recipes That Begin with a Box of Cake Mix by Camilla V. Saulsbury and I have had the opportunity to test out several yummy cookie and bar cookie recipes over the past few weeks!   As Ms. Saulsbury says in her introduction:

A standard 18.25-ounce package of cake mix is the secret to a wealth of homemade cookies.  Even better, the results are assuredly irresistible.  A package of cake mix gives home bakers the same head start for baking cookies as for baking cakes.  Cake mix simplifies the steps and ingredients and offers insurance (in the form of accurately pre-measured and  mixed flour, sugar and leavening) that the time spent baking will lead to sweet success time and again.  With a few extra ingredients, turns of the spoon, and whirs of the mixer, cake mix can make any home cook a prize cookie baker

The book also includes tips and tricks as well as hundreds of recipes!  The book offers a variety of drop cookies, bar cookies and formed and filled cookies!


The one I thought to share with you today is truly appropriate for the holiday season:


Fruitcake Jumbles


1 (18.25-ounce) package yellow cake mix
1/4 cup brandy, dark rum or apple juice
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1 large egg
1 cup candied mixed fruit
2/3 cup raisins or dried cranberries
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans 

1. Preheat oven to 350F
2. Mix the cake mix, brandy (rum or juice), melted butter, and egg in a large bowl with a wooden spoon until blended.  Mix in the candied fruit, raisins or cranberries, and oats
3. Drop by tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto prepared cookie sheets. Sprinkle tops of cookies with nuts, gently pressing into dough.
4. Bake 10 to 13 minutes or until edges are firm and center is just barely set when lightly touched.  Cool one minute on sheets, then remove cookies with a spatula to wire racks to cool completely.

Variation: Use a devils food cake mix and replace raisins or cranberries with 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 


And don't forget to add your cookie recipes to the linky below:


Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost to me for the purpose of my review.  All opinions are my own.