Cookie Traditions
With the holidays just around the corner, I thought it would be nice to share a very old Christmas cookie tradition with everyone. Cookies should be fun and easy to make. When you read the list of ingredients and instructions, don’t run and hide. This recipe is very easy to complete. Your family will be tickled to death with the taste you set before them.
Old Fashioned Christmas Raisin Delights
Ingredients
3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2/3 cup butter, softened
¾ cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 ¾ cups raisins
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup water
1 pinch salt
1 tsp lemon juice
1 ½ T cornstarch
2 T water
½ cup chopped walnuts
Directions:
1. To make the dough: Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together; set aside.
2. Cream the butter with ¾ cup of the brown sugar and the white sugar. Beat in the eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix at high speed for 2 minutes, then reduce speed and gradually blend in the flour mixture. Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 3 hours.
3. To make raisin filling: Grind the raisins. In a medium saucepan combine the ground raisins, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup water, salt and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 3 minutes.
4. Combine the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water and mix until smooth. Add to the raisin mixture and continue to simmer until thick. Remove from heat and let cool. Once cool, stir in the chopped nuts.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C). Lightly grease baking sheets.
6. On a floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into 2 ¾ inch rounds. Place rounds on the prepared baking sheet. Place a heaping teaspoon of the raisin filling on the cookie round and top with another round. Crimp edges closed.
7. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 C) for 8 minutes. Allow cookies to cool on sheet until just barely warm.
Enjoy to your heart’s content and let those old time family traditions roll into your mind and then out to the rest of the family as you share these traditions and cookies with your family and friends.
