I love pre-Christmas on the "web." More specifically I will sign up for email from any advertiser offering a daily dose of Christmas cookie recipes. "Why do you get all this spam?" asked Grandson Jack. "Because I sign up for stuff," I answered, to which he responded with a knowing nod.
But perhaps nothing is as much fun as a vintage "find." Here's a recipe I found tucked into the top of Grandma Ina's recipe box, written by one of her daughters, I think. It's not really a Christmas cookie recipe, I suppose, but I figure any cookie can be a Christmas Cookie. It seems as Christmas-like as many of those I receive in my email.
The original recipe reads as follows:
¾ cup fat (scant) – I used ¾ cup Crisco
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 ½ cups flour
1 tsp soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup nut meats
Cream fat, add sugar gradually, eggs slightly beaten, vanilla, and flour sifted with soda and salt. Stir in chopped nuts. Work smooth, pack into a buttered pan and set in ice box or any cold place overnight. Slice thin and bake in oven at 400 degrees till brown. You'll find 3 cups of ordinary flour too much but dough must be very stiff or it will be too rich.
I followed the method as specified, using my stand mixer to mix all ingredients. I don't know what "too rich" in the last sentence means, but I worked in all the flour. I packed the dough into a baking dish approximately 9x13, but another time I might use a bread pan so that the cookies are of bigger dimensions. I notice Mike takes them two at a time.
And – after burning the first tray to a crisp, I cut the heat to 375 and baked the cookies 6 to 7 minutes. I did find that they burn quickly, probably because of the high sugar content.
The next time I'll use butter for the fat and two teaspoons of vanilla. KW
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ReplyDeleteLucky Dad. Coincidentally, I made peanut butter cookies with Hershey kisses today for a Christmas party at work tomorrow. I almost never bake cookies and it was more work than expected - but think they came out well. 6 dozen.
ReplyDeleteHi Murray! Those peanut butter cookies are Hallie's favorite. We used to make them often.
ReplyDeleteYes, cookies are labor-intensive. When I was a youngster, I used to be put out with my dad when he'd bake cookies, then require that I clean up the mess. I used to think, "If I'd wanted to clean up the kitchen, I'd have baked the cookies myself. I am learning to use parchment paper on the baking sheets which does facilitate clean-up.
Mmm! Yes, I LOVE peanut butter kiss cookies. I prepare the kisses a dozen at a time while the cookies are baking. It keeps me busy the entire time. You do need a nap after all that work.
ReplyDeleteMom: random thought. Did Uncle Irl/Earl get married and have kids? Are there any other Dobsons today?
LOL -- from cookies to family history? That is random!
ReplyDeleteIrl/Earl/Earle married Bernice Dryden of Peck. They did not have children. There were just five grandchildren from the six children, and I was the only grandchild with the surname Dobson. I had only one male cousin -- Stanley Sanders.