Candied Fruit Cookies are eggless, crispy, buttery melt-in-mouth cookies with candied fruit or tutti frutti bits. These are always a hit at holiday time. I have prepared two different flavors, vanilla and rose.

Some other popular names for these cookies are fruit biscuits, Karachi biscuits, tutti frutti cookies, holiday cookies, Christmas cookies, dried fruit cookies, and Hyderabad Karachi Biscuits. These cookies are one of the best gift options for special occasions like Diwali, New Year, and Christmas.
These fruit biscuits are one of the most crowd-pleasing tea-time biscuits in India. I love the aroma coming out of the kitchen when baking these cookies. It just makes me crazy. These tutti frutti cookies were one of my favorite items and a must-buy whenever I visited a bakery shop during my childhood.
These are the best holiday cookies or Christmas cookies to try. Here is why!
- The light, crispy and crumbly texture with the right amount of flavor and sweetness will suit the taste buds of almost people of all age groups.
- Easy to make, looks classy and would be perfect for gifting to your family and friends.
- And I bet you can't stop eating one.
Ingredients
- ½ cup Butter, salted, room temperature (1 stick) (you can even use unsalted butter. check notes)
- ½ cup Fine granulated sugar or powdered sugar
- 2 cups All purpose flour or Maida
- 4-5 tablespoon Milk add as required
Other Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon Rose syrup (optional only if doing rose flavored, you can even use rose essence instead, reduce it to 1 tsp)
- ½ cup Tutti Frutti
How to make Candied Fruit Cookies
In a bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add all-purpose flour and mix well. Now add milk little by little in increments to get a stiff dough. The amount of milk will depend on weather conditions and the brand of flour you are using.
If you make biscuits of a single flavor, you do not have to divide the dough. Else divide the dough into 2 equal parts. Use vanilla essence or pineapple essence for one part of the dough, along with tutti frutti or candied fruits and rose essence for another part.
While making rose-flavored cookies, use rose syrup or rose essence. The syrup I have used is a very mild version, so I have used 2 tbsp. If using rose essence just add 1 tsp.
Make a log out of the dough, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 3 hours. This is to make sure that the cookies are flaky.
Cut them into half-inch thick round or rectangular cookies and bake for 13 to 15 minutes. These cookies will be soft when they are out of the oven but will turn crisp once cool down.
How long can I store these cookies?
When stored in an airtight container, these cookies remain fresh for two weeks.
I hope you give these cookies a try. Have loads and loads of fun with your family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays !!
FAQ
Karachi Bakery is famous for the quality of baked goodies, and I would highly encourage you to visit their bakery if you ever visit Hyderabad. The smell will drive you crazy. These fruit biscuits are on their top list and are famous for their quality, taste, flavor, and texture. They are super addictive. Some other popular biscuits I love are jeera biscuits and Osmania cookies.
These are pure vegetarian, eggless cookies.
Yes. The color, and texture of the cookies will vary accordingly when using whole wheat flour or atta.
Popular Christmas and Holiday Treats
- 3 Ingredient Oreo Fudge
- Holiday Fantasy Fudge
- Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
- 2 Ingredient No-bake Christmas Fudge
- Cashew Meringue Cookies
Other recipes with candied fruit
- Traditional Christmas rum cake
- Christmas tutti frutti cake (fruit cake)
- Vegan tutti frutti bread
- Rasgulla falooda
- Royal rose falooda
Recipe card
Candied Fruit Cookies | Eggless Tutti Frutti Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup Butter, room temperature (1 stick) (you can use salted or unsalted. If using unsalted, add pinch of salt to the dough)
- ½ cup Fine granulated sugar or powdered sugar
- 2 cups All purpose flour or Maida
- 4-5 tablespoon Milk add as required
Other Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract or Pineapple extract
- 2 tablespoon Rose syrup (optional only if doing rose flavored, you can even use rose essence instead reduce it to 1 tsp)
- ½ cup Tutti Frutti or Candied Fruits
Instructions
How to make christmas cookies dough?
- In a mixing bowl add butter and sugar and beat for 3 to 4 minutes until its creamy and fluffy.½ cup Butter, room temperature (1 stick), ½ cup Fine granulated sugar or powdered sugar
- To this add all purpose flour and mix well.2 cups All purpose flour or Maida
- Add milk in increments of a tablespoon so that you get a stiff dough. Do not add all milk at once. You may require more or less milk depending on the brand of flour and weather conditions. So add accordingly.4-5 tablespoon Milk
Candied fruit holiday cookies
- If you are doing 2 flavors only then divide the dough into two.
- For one portion, add vanilla extract and mix. Add ¼ cup of tutti frutti and mix just till combined.1 teaspoon Vanilla extract or Pineapple extract, ½ cup Tutti Frutti or Candied Fruits
- Make a log out of this dough, cover it in plastic wrap and place it in freezer for 30 minutes .
- For another portion of dough, add rose syrup and mix. Then add remaining tutti frutti and mix just until combined. If using rose essence reduce the amount to 1 tsp2 tablespoon Rose syrup
- Similarly make a log out of this dough, cover it in plastic wrap and place it in refrigerator for minium 3 hours
- (If you would like to do only one flavor, add the desired vanilla extract or rose syrup or even pineapple essence in step I, along with the flour. followed by milk and then tutti frutti. Make a log and place it in the refrigerator)
How to bake Candied Fruit Christmas Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350 degree F. Place parchment paper on baking sheet.
- With sharp knife cut them into half inch think cookies. of desired shape, round or rectangle.
- Place them on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 13 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let them cool completely. They will be soft when out of the oven but will become crisp as they cool down.
- Karachi Biscuits or Candied Fruit Cookies are now ready. Serve and enjoy.
Nutrition
***Click below to save it on Pinterest***
Ned
This is on the list of must try recipes! Thank you for this!
Angela
One of my favorite holiday cookies! Thanks for the great recipe!
Stephanie
I'm not a huge fan of candied fruit, but my mom loves it. She's in a nursing home this year, so I am limited on what I can bring her. I think I'll make these and bring them to her! She will love them!
TAYLER ROSS
I made these cookies for our cookie trays this year and they were incredible! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
Savita
The cookies turned out so good. I loved the fact that these are eggless, suits well to me. Great recipe!