My mother would always bake date nut bread and fruit cake during the holidays. I on the other hand, have always been more of a cookie person, so I combined the best of both and this wonderful Date & Nut Drop Cookie has become an annual family tradition during the holidays. It may not have much of a colorful festive look to it, but it has a natural rustic element that reminds me of an old fashioned Christmas.

Date & Nut Drop Cookies

• Servings: 18-24

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• 5 tablespoons milk
• 2 cups dates, pitted and chopped
• ¾ cup chopped walnuts
• 18 – 24 pieces of whole pecans

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
2. Combine butter, salt, and vanilla - blend well.
3. Add sugar and cream well.
4. Beat eggs and blend into mixture.
5. Sift flour with soda and slowly add to the creamed mixture part by part, alternating with the milk. Mix thoroughly.
6. Stir in dates and walnuts.
7. Drop from teaspoon and flatten with glass covered with damp cloth. Press down one pecan on top of each cookie.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool and enjoy.

Recipe Tags

• Christmas
• Fall
• American
• European
• Middle Eastern
• Dessert