Spiced Christmas Cookies

Name: Spiced Christmas Cookies
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 7-1/2 dozen.
Ingredients: 2 cups molasses; 1 cup butter, melted; 1 cup sour cream; 1 tablespoon lemon juice; 8 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup packed brown sugar; 3 teaspoons each ground cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves; 2-1/4 teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest; 3/4 teaspoon salt; 3 cups chopped walnuts; 1-2/3 cups raisins; 1/4 cup chopped candied lemon peel; 1/4 cup chopped candied orange peel; FROSTING:; 4-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar; 1 cup heavy whipping cream; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; GARNISH:; 4 cups red and/or green candied cherries, cut as desired

This delicious cookie recipe has been passed down through six generations and was brought to America from Germany in 1846! It's a holiday tradition in our house and we're proud to share this wonderful recipe with you. —Tanya Juhasz, Newberry, Florida

Ingredients

2 cups molasses
1 cup butter, melted
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon lemon juice
8 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 teaspoons each ground cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves
2-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups chopped walnuts
1-2/3 cups raisins
1/4 cup chopped candied lemon peel
1/4 cup chopped candied orange peel
FROSTING:
4-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons lemon juice
GARNISH:
4 cups red and/or green candied cherries, cut as desired

Directions

In a very large bowl, beat the molasses, butter, sour cream and lemon juice until well blended. Combine the flour, brown sugar, spices, baking soda, lemon zest and salt; gradually add to butter mixture and mix well. Stir in the walnuts, raisins and candied peels. Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle, about 30 minutes.
Divide dough into four portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/4-in. round cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° until bottoms are lightly browned, 10-12 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Combine frosting ingredients until smooth. Frost cookies; decorate with cherries. Store in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 187 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 11mg cholesterol, 81mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat.

Originally published as Grettenberger Family Cookies in Taste of Home December/January 2009

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Proudczech

Aug 8, 2015

This recipe it DELICIOUS!...my hubby who is German LOVES them&so do my kids/grandkids!-they might be a "Christmas Cookie"-but we eat them year round!...one thing I do is put the fruit in the food processor so they are kinda ground up&that way you are not eating big hunks of fruit in the cookies????