grandma orcutt's date cookies

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 cup shortening
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 cup chopped dates
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 10 mins Ready Time: 8 hrs 25 mins


• in a large bowl, cream together the shortening and brown sugar until smooth. beat in the eggs one at a time them stir in the vanilla. sift together the flour, baking soda and cream of tartar, gradually stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. using your hand or a large wooden spoon, stir in the dates and walnuts. if your dates have clumped together, you can toss them with a little bit of the flour.
• divide the batter into two pieces and roll them into logs about 2 inches in diameter. wrap them in waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill for at least 8 hours or overnight.
• preheat the oven to 400 degrees f (200 degrees c). grease cookie sheets.
• remove the logs from the refrigerator and unwrap them. using a sharp knife, cut each one crosswise into 1/4 inch slices. place the rounds the prepared cookie sheets 2 inches apart.
• bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. allow cookies to cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.