Our family gets together each December to bake cookies. We bake cookies all day long, ending up with several different kinds to divide amongst ourselves. We take these cookies home to share with family, friends, and neighbors all throughout the season. The date nut pinwheels are one of my very favorite, and because we only make them at Christmastime, I look forward to them all year. Each bite brings images of blazing fireplaces, stockings hung and loved ones gathered around. A wonderful tradition, carried on by generations of bakers.
Cookies
½ cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
½ teaspoon vanilla
1¾ cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
Date-nut filling
¾ pound pitted dates, cut up into small pieces
¹/³: cup sugar
¹/³: cup water
½ cup finely chopped pecans
For the cookies, cream butter, sugar, egg and vanilla together. Add dry ingredients, divide dough in half. Roll each piece of dough on waxed paper into a rectangle shape about 11 by 7 inches.
Meanwhile, make the date-nut filling. Cook first 3 ingredients in saucepan until slightly thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in nuts. Let cool.
Spread date-nut filling on rectangles. Roll up each rectangle tightly, beginning at wide side. Pinch edge to seal. Wrap each roll in waxed paper and chill several hours.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a baking sheet.
Cut roll into ¼-inch slices. Place each slice on prepared baking sheet. Bake 8--10 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
Source »Holly Watkins
