Saturday, December 19, 2009

Day 3 - Date Nut Pinwheels

12 Days of Cookies - Day 3

I've been making these Date Pinwheels for years. They're a family favorite and a favorite on the cookie trays we give away every Christmas.

Before you say you don't like dates, give this recipe a try. It's fruity, chewy and crisp all at the same time. They're delicious and the flavor improves the next day. This recipe breaks my butter rule. Butter would make the cookies brown too much and dough too soft.

Date Nut Pinwheels
4 dozen

1/2 c. shortening
1 c. firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 egg
1-1/4 c. all purpose flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon


Filling
1 (8 ounce) pkg. chopped pitted dates
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. water
1 c. finely chopped pecans

Combine dates, sugar, and water in a med. saucepan. Cook over med. heat 3-5 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove filling from heat; stir in pecans. Let cool.

Cream shortening; gradually add sugar, beating well at med. speed of an electric mixer. Add egg, and beat well. Combine flour, soda, salt, and cinnamon; gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Shape dough into a ball.

Place dough on a lightly floured surface; rollin to a 16" x 8" rectangle. Spread filling over dough, leaving a 1/2" margin on all sides. Starting at long side, carefully roll dough, jellyroll fashion; pinch seam and ends of roll to seal. Wrap dough in wax paper, and chill at least 1 hour.


Unwrap roll, and cut into 1/4" slices. Place 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Let sit on cookie tray for a minute then remove to wire rack.


Enjoy!


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8 comments:

Shauna K said...

oooh i will absolutely be giving these a try! I'm trying to send my hubby a new type of cookie/pastry each month hehe {he's deployed overseas} and he loooves dates! thanks so much for sharing :D have a blessed and merry Christmas :)

Traci M said...

I've been thinking about giving these a try, I love dates...thanks for sharing your tried and true recipe and tips!
Hope your Christmas is merry!

Enfys said...

Oh yummy yummy yummy......the cranberry ones look totally delish too. thanks for sharing, have a lovely lovely Christmas
big hugs,
Enfys x

Sue from Oregon said...

oh I love date cookies!

ChYmEc!nDy** said...

look so yummy! gonna try that at home.

http://dreamchymecindy.blogspot.com
http://chyme-inspiration.blogspot.com

Kelly said...

Yummy. I'll have to give these a try!

Anonymous said...

I am making these today and thought my dough was a little soft. I have not baked them yet, the roll is chillin in the frig right now. I had a little problem rolling it up, double checked my ingredients and everything is right. I will be baking them in about an hour can't wait to sample. The filling was delicious!

C said...

The chilling called for in the recipe is required. The dough will "heat up" from your hands. You can even freeze the roll for easier cutting. Depending on where you live and how your flour is stored, it can absorb moisture as well. Too much flour makes a crumbly dough that will fall apart and crack when rolling it up. Good luck and let me know how they turn out.

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