During the festive season, one of the traditional Christmas treats that many households enjoy are sweet date filled cookies. With simple ingredients that are likely already in your pantry, you can easily whip up these delicious date-filled cookies. This recipe consists of two main components – the cookies themselves and the sweet date filling.
Exploring the Flavor of Dates
Dates are often described as a combination of figs and prunes in terms of taste. They offer a natural sweetness that intensifies as they dry, making them a perfect choice for filling these delightful cookies.
Recipe for Date Filled Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
Yields 30 cookies
Cookie Ingredients
- 1 cup of shortening
- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons of milk
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract
- 3 cups of all-purpose flour (sifted)
- 1/2 tsp of salt
- 1/2 tsp of baking soda
Filling:
- 2 cups of chopped dates
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1/2 cup of water
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp of salt
Directions
- Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F
- Cream together the shortening, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy. Add in the egg, milk, and vanilla extract, mixing well. Sift the dry ingredients together and combine with the creamed mixture. Chill the dough for at least an hour.
- While the dough chills, prepare the date filling by cooking the chopped dates, sugar, and water in a saucepan until boiling. Cover and simmer for about five minutes, stirring occasionally. Add lemon juice and salt, then allow to cool.
- On a floured surface, roll out half of the dough at a time to a thickness of just under 1/8 inch. Use a 2 1/2 inch round cookie cutter to cut out the cookies. Place a tablespoon of the prepared date filling in the center of each plain cookie, then top with another round cookie. Press the edges together with a fork to seal. Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 375°F for 10 to 12 minutes.