Festive Oatmeal Cookies/Fruitcake Cookies

Here is a recipe for delicious oatmeal cookies which can also be used for festive fruitcake cookies! Perfect for Christmas!

1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp each: nutmeg, ground cloves, allspice (if desired)
3 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup chopped walnuts
1-2 cups candied fruit (for fruit cake cookies)
*mix fruit with 1/4 cup flour to prevent lumping or sticking

Cream together sugars and butter. Add eggs and vanilla. In separate bowl, combine flour, spices, baking soda and salt. Stir into creamed mixture. Mix in oats and nuts. For fruit cake cookies, add fruit. Cover and chill dough for at least one hour.

Preheat oven to 350. Grease cookie sheets. Roll dough into balls and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet. For fruit cake cookies, you can add a whole candied cherry for garnish. Bake 8-10 minutes Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.