This recipe makes a lot of cookies but great for presents and are very, very morish. A friend gave me the recipe after I had received some as a gift from her one Christmas.
Ingredients £2.30
¾ lb dried mixed fruits (I use a mixture of Sultanas, raisins, chopped dates, chopped apricots)
2 oz glacier cherries, coarsely chopped
1 tblsp honey
2 tblsp sherry
1 tblsp lemon juice
6 oz chopped nuts
Salt
½ lb unsalted butter, at room temperature
½ teaspoon ground cloves
4 oz superfine sugar
3 oz light brown sugar
1 large egg
all-purpose flour
Method
1. In a bowl, combine the fruit, honey, sherry, lemon juice, nuts, and a pinch of salt. Cover with cling film and allow to sit overnight at room temperature.
2. In a bowl cream the butter, cloves, caster sugar, and brown sugar until smooth. Add the egg and mix until incorporated well. Add the flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt and fold in until just combined. Don't over mix.
3. 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 piece of parchment or waxed paper. Roll each half into a log, 1 ½ to 1 ¾ inch thick. Put the dough in the fridge for several hours, or overnight.
4. Preheat the oven to 180 °C. With a sharp knife, cut the dough into ½ inch thick slices. Place the slices ½ inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until lightly golden.
5. Allow to cool slightly on the baking sheet as they are very delicate at this stage then remove with a fish slice to a rack to finish cooling.
