Orange Spice Cookies

1/2 cup currants, raisins, or dried cranberries
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon all spice
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
2 cups grated carrot

1. Cover raisins, currents, or cranberries with boiling water. Let sit for ten minutes to soften.
2. Meanwhile, sift together dry ingredients.
3. Cream butter and brown sugar. Add in egg and orange zest. Blend well.
4. Using lowest speed of mixer, add in carrots and drained raisins. Mix well.
5. Add in dry ingredients and mix on lowest speed just until blended.
6. Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes and preheat oven to 350.
7. Drop dough by teaspoons onto baking sheet covered with aluminum foil.
8. Bake 10-12 minutes.

This cookie is a really nice one, especially warm. My daughter said, "It tastes like Christmas!" The dough looks like it needs more flour, but it doesn't. This is a soft cookie.