Sugarplumdreamscookies Recipes

Steps:

• Put the almonds, plums, apricots, and figs into the bowl of a food processor and pulse 20 to 25 times or until the fruit and nuts are chopped into small pieces, but before the mixture becomes a ball.
• Combine the powdered sugar, anise seeds, fennel seeds, caraway seeds, cardamom, and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Add the nut and fruit mixture and the honey and mix using gloved hands until well combined.
• Scoop the mixture into 1/4-ounce portions and roll into balls. If serving immediately, roll in the coarse sugar and serve. If not serving immediately, put the balls on a cooling rack and leave uncovered until ready to serve. Roll in the coarse sugar prior to serving.
• The Sugarplums may be stored on the cooling rack for up to a week. After a week, store in an airtight container for up to a month.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Mix dry ingredients, then add remaining ingredients. Dough will be thin.
• Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes.

Steps:

• To make the filling: Place plums, sugar and butter in saucepan; cook over low heat until juices flow.
• Heat to boil; simmer 3 minutes or until plums are tender when pierced.
• Add cornstarch/water mixture and cook until mixture is clear and thickened; stir in lemon juice and set aside to cool.
• Sift dry ingredients together.
• Cream butter and sugars.
• Beat in eggs and vanilla; stir in sifted dry ingredients.
• Chill dough one hour.
• Preheat oven to 400F and spray baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Roll dough on floured board to 1/8" thickness; cut into 3 1/2" circles.
• Work with only a portion of dough at a time for ease of handling.
• Cut a 1" hole in middle of half of the circles.
• Put 2 tablespoons plum filling on center of the other half of the circles.
• Top with holed circle and crimp edges decoratively with a fork.
• Arrange on a cookie sheet.
• Brush with egg and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden; cool on rack.

Steps:

• Make the cookies: Whisk the flour, confectioners' sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Beat in the vanilla, then beat in the sprinkles. Divide the dough in half and shape each half into a disk; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 325˚ F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of dough until 1/4 inch thick. (If the dough starts to crack, let it warm up for a few minutes before continuing.) Using a 2 1/2-inch fluted round cookie cutter, cut out cookies and arrange about 1 inch apart on one of the baking sheets. Gather the scraps, reroll and cut out more cookies.
• Bake until the cookies are lightly golden, about 12 minutes. Let the cookies cool 5 minutes on the pan, then remove to a rack to cool completely. Meanwhile, repeat with the remaining disk of dough.
• Make the icing: Mix the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice and 3 teaspoons water, adding more water 1 teaspoon at a time until the icing is spreadable. Spread the mixed sprinkles on a plate in an even layer. Spread about 1 teaspoon icing on each cookie, then dip the cookie icing-side down in the sprinkles to coat. Let set 30 minutes.

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the raisins, plums, mixed fruit and pecans. Cover and process until chopped. Transfer to a large bowl., Roll into 1-in. balls, then roll in sugar. Place on waxed paper and let stand at room temperature for 4 hours. Store in an airtight container. Roll in additional sugar before serving if desired.

Steps:

• In a food processor or by hand, finely chop apricots, pecans, figs or dates, raisins and coconut.
• Add liqueur or orange juice and almond flavoring.
• Stir until well blended.
• Roll into 36 balls, about 1-inch, by placing a small amount of the mixture between the palms of your hands.
• Roll each ball in granulated sugar.
• Layer in an airtight container, placing waxed paper or plastic wrap between each layer to prevent sticking.
• Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
• Serve on a glass plate lined with a paper doily.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat eggs for 1 minute. Gradually add 1 cup sugar; beat 1 minute longer or until thickened. Stir in the almonds, coconut, dates and extracts. Transfer to an ungreased 11x7-in. baking dish., Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until browned and a thermometer reads 160°. Remove from the oven; stir. Let stand for 6-8 minutes or until cool enough to handle. Roll into 1-in. balls; roll in remaining sugar. Cool completely on waxed paper. Store in an airtight container.