Chewy Date Pinwheels

Name: Chewy Date Pinwheels
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: about 4 dozen.
Ingredients: FILLING:; 1-1/2 cups chopped dates; 1 cup sugar; 1 cup water; 1/2 cup chopped pecans; COOKIE DOUGH:; 1 cup butter, softened; 2 cups packed brown sugar; 1/2 cup sugar; 3 large eggs; 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Whenever we'd come to see her, my grandma always had cookies for us children. Now, when I make these pinwheels for my own family, I think of her. I've taken Chewy Date Pinwheels to church potlucks and reunions, too, and the response has always been the same—Mmmmm—I need another!" My husband and I have five children, ranging in age from 8 years to 8 months. We have a strawberry patch, and we grow popcorn and lots of other crops besides for sale at a local grocery and roadside market. On my own, I enjoy quilts—I pieced 114 of them last year alone!

Ingredients

FILLING:
1-1/2 cups chopped dates
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup chopped pecans
COOKIE DOUGH:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
3 large eggs
4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

In a large saucepan, combine the dates, sugar and water. Cook and stir over medium heat for 7-9 minutes or until thickened. Stir in nuts; set aside to cool.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, soda, salt and cinnamon; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough in half.
On a floured surface, roll out one portion of dough into a 1/4-in.-thick rectangle. Spread with half of filling. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Wrap each roll in plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.
Unwrap dough; cut into 1/2-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 12-14 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Nutrition Facts

2 each: 327 calories, 10g fat (5g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 244mg sodium, 57g carbohydrate (38g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.

Originally published as Chewy Date Pinwheels in Country Woman May/June 1991

Reviews

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Average Rating:

pascontente

Aug 11, 2016

this is without a doubt the worse recipe I have ever found on the internet. The dough is impossible to handle, it is a huge mess. What a waste of ingredients. I am so upset I may never use an online recipe again. And what's up with the reviewers? did you delete the bad reviews? Also the instructions are minimal. And now I have to go clean up the mess.
Babyblue14

Nov 1, 2015

I halved this recipe and still ended up with over 3 dozen cookies. I agree the filling is not the right proportion, I ended up making more filling since it did not cover all the dough. I rolled out the dough on parchment paper which kept sliding around even though I taped it. It was helpful for the rolling though, since my dough was too soft. I used two whole eggs mistakenly instead of one and a half. I still recommend using parchment paper. My cookies turned out more oblong since I did not divide the dough in half. I do wish the cookies had turned out more soft and thicker. My second batch went in at a lower temperature which I enjoyed more since the first ones were too crispy. You do not need to refrigerate overnight, I just stuck it in the fridge for a couple of hours. If you are in a hurry, just leave in the freezer for a half hour and the dough will be easier to cut.
dak97

Jan 12, 2010

I made these for Christmas and everyone loved them. The only problem I had with the recipe is that I did not have enough filling for the amount of dough. This may have something to do with the fact that I decreased the sugar by half for the filling. I would make these again but I would make more filling.
pyboth

Dec 16, 2008

My Compliments to the chef,they are Schrumpjes!!!Thank youAlso I do buy the books regulary at our local foodmart this last X-Mas issue has some great idea's which I am using.Yvonna Both