Grandma Holmes's Date Cookies

This recipe is another great find from the recipes that Aunt Paula had from Grandma Holmes. Like some of the others, this recipe likely was passed to her from a friend. It was actually typed onto an index card rather than handwritten. Because these cookies require rolling dough and assembly, they require a little more labor than most cookies, but they are worth it.

This old-fashioned recipe appealed to me because it results in a cookie that cannot be found in stores. The cookies themselves are delicious. They are a brown sugar cookie filled with a tasty date and nut filling. When I read the recipe, I was worried that the filling would not stay in the cookie as they baked. But, there was no need to worry, all the cookies came out perfect with no escaped filling.

Refrigerator Date Cookies 

• 2 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 1 cup butter
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 3 eggs, well-beaten
• 4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda

Make the cookie dough by creaming the butter with the brown sugar. Add the eggs and beat well. Add the flour, salt, and baking soda and blend well. Refrigerate the dough thoroughly. 

Make the date filling by combining the dates, sugar and water in a saucepan and heat on low until thick and bubbly, about 10 minutes. Add the nuts and blend well. Allow the filling to cool.

Roll out the dough in parts into an approximately 1/8 inch thickness. Cut out cookies with a round cookie cutter. To assemble the filled cookies, place one cookie circle onto an ungreased pan, place a teaspoon of filling in the center and then top with another circle. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Allow to cool. Enjoy!