Amish Date Nut Pinwheel Cookies Recipes

Steps:

• Cream the butter and brown sugar together in a mixing bowl until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Sift the cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and flour together in a second mixing bowl. Slowly stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture until evenly blended.
• Divide the dough evenly into three portions and place each on a square of waxed paper. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the filling by combine the dates, pecans, water and white sugar in a saucepan set over low heat. Cook and stir until the filling has a paste-like consistency. Cool slightly.
• Working with one portion at a time, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to make a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Spread 1/3 of the filling evenly over the dough; roll up to make a log. Repeat the process with the remaining dough. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Lightly grease two baking sheets.
• Using a sharp, serrated knife, cut the rolls into 1/4 inch slices. Place the slices on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake in preheated oven until set and lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Cool on racks.

Steps:

• Chop pitted dates in food chopper. Place dates into small saucepan and add 1/4 cup sugar, dash of salt, and 1 1/4 cups of water. Cook, stirring constantly until mixture is of a soft consistency. Remove from heat.
• Add grated lemon rind, lemon juice, and chopped nuts. Mix well and chill.
• Cream together 3/4 cup butter and gradually add 1/2 cup white sugar and 1cup lightly packed brown sugar. Beat well. Beat 2 eggs until thick and add to creamed mixture part at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla.
• Measure into a sifter 3 1/2 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, and 3/4 teaspoon of salt. Sift together twice. Sift dry ingredients into creamed mixture about 1/4 at a time. Combine thoroughly after each addition. Chill until firm.
• Divide dough into 3 parts. Roll out 1 part at a time into a rectangle. Spread with date filling. Roll up jelly roll fashion in waxed paper. Chill several hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
• With sharp knife, slice 1/4 inch thick slices off of rolls and place on greased cookie sheets. Bake 10 - 13 minutes. Let cool.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs. In another bowl, whisk flour and baking soda; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Divide dough into 3 portions; shape each into a disk. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll., For filling, place dates, water and sugar in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until dates are tender and liquid is almost evaporated. Stir in walnuts; cool completely., Roll each dough portion between 2 sheets of waxed paper into a 12x10-in. rectangle. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Remove waxed paper. Spread a third of the filling over each rectangle. Roll up tightly jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Wrap securely. Refrigerate until firm., Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap and cut dough crosswise into 1/3-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Steps:

• For filling, in a small saucepan combine dates, sugar, and water and bring to boiling.
• Cook an stir over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes or till thick.
• Remove from the heat.
• Stir in nuts and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
• Cool thoroughly.
• Meanwhile, combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
• In a large mixing bowl beat shortening for 30 seconds.
• Add brown sugar and beat until fluffy.
• Add egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and beat well.
• Add flour mixture and beat until well mixed, stirring in last portion by hand.
• Cover and chill about 30 minutes or until easy to handle.
• On waxed paper roll dough into an 18x10 inch rectangle.
• Spread filling to within 1/2 inch of edges.
• Roll up jelly roll style, beginning at long side.
• Pinch edge to seal.
• Cut roll in half cross wise.
• Wrap rolls and chill for several hours or overnight.
• (Chill in a drinking glass to avoid flat side.) Cut in 1/4-inch slices.
• Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
• Bake in a 350 oven for 10-12 minutes or until done.
• Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute, then remove and cool thoroughly.

Steps:

• Date Filling:.
• Combine dates, sugar and water in a pan and cook until thick (about 10 mins.).
• Add nuts to mixture, mix, and let cool. Set aside.
• Cookie Dough:.
• Cream shortening and add brown sugar gradually.
• Add eggs, and beat well. Add to the other ingredients, and mix.
• Divide into 2 parts, and make 2 round balls.
• Chill for 1 hr., or until ready to bake.
• Preheat oven to 375.
• Make 4 balls from the 2 lg. balls of dough.
• Roll out dough to 1/4" thick, and spread date mixture all over the top to the edge of the dough.
• Roll into logs.
• Cut into slices 1/4" thick, and place on greased cookie sheet.
• Bake in 375 oven for 10-12 minutes.
• Cool on cookie racks and store in a plastic container with lid, or a cookie tin.

Steps:

• Make dough: Sift together flour, salt, and baking soda into a large bowl, set aside. Put butter and sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Mix in eggs. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour mixture. Divide dough in half, and wrap each half in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour or overnight.
• Transfer one of the dough halves to a lightly floured piece of parchment paper. Roll out to a 10-by-12-inch rectangle, trim edges with a knife. Repeat with remaining dough half. Transfer each rectangle on parchment to a baking sheet. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Make filling: Bring figs, raisins, and juices to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Cook, stirring often, until fruit has softened and only a few tablespoons of liquid remain, about 25 minutes. Let cool completely. Transfer fig mixture to a food processor, and puree until smooth.
• Spread half the filling over each rectangle. Starting with a long side, roll dough into a log. Wrap each log in plastic; refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut logs into 1/4-inch-thick slices using a sharp knife, transferring to baking sheets lined with parchment paper (and reshaping into rounds, if needed) as you work. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges turn golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks.