OLD FASHIONED DATE NUT COOKIES

Old Fashioned Date Nut Cookies image

Provided by Nor Mac

Categories Cookies

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 18

FILLING
2 c chopped dates ( 10 ounces)
1/2 c granulated white digar
2/3 c water
1/2 Tbsp orange zest
1/2 c chopped walnuts
COOKIE DOUGH
1/2 c vegetable shortening ( crisco)
1/2 c softened butter
2 c light brown sugar packed
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 c all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c chopped walnuts

Steps:

1. Make the filling. Shop the dates. I use a food processor to chop.
2. In a large sauce pan add the dates, granulated sugar, orange zest, and 2/3 cup of water. Stir and bring mixture to a boil. Continue cooking until mixture is very thick and boiled down to a paste. Remove from heat. empty into a bowl and refrigerate until cool. Mix in the walnuts after it cools.
3. Make the dough: In a bowl. Cream shortening and butter together on low speed with a mixer. Add in the brown sugar and mix well on low speed.
4. In another bowl. Mix together eggs, and vanilla. Add this mixture to the butter sugar mixture. Beat well.
5. In another bowl sift the flour baking soda, cinnamon and salt together . Add this to the creamed butter mixture. Add 1/2 cup chopped walnut's. Stir to combine.
6. Mix well By hand. Refrigerate dough for about 30 minutes to give it more stiffness. Heat oven to 350°. Parchment line a sheet pan, Or you may lightly grease a sheet pan.
7. in teaspoon size amounts. Make each in to a ball. Top each cookie with a teaspoon of date filling in center of ball. Push filling down into cookie . Place in oven and bake 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Let cool move to rack to cool completely.