Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies

Here we are just over 3 weeks away from Christmas, how time flies. Well here is the 3rd cookie in my series of holiday treats. Date-nut pinwheels are a cookie from our days in St. Louis. Our family history is rich with stories and memories from our time in Florissant, MO. My mother and father made many friends during those 9 years that have lasted over many transitions and changes in our lives. This was a group of people who loved the Lord and celebrated with friends at church, church functions and family get togethers. One of my mom’s dear friends Eula Suey gave my mom this recipe over 50 years ago and every year (we haven’t missed one) from that point, we have made these cookies and added them to our holiday cookie feast. Each of our cookies has a story and and a history that we treasure and love.

These delightful cookies have a brown sugar dough, with a delectable filling of dates, nuts and sugar that is melded together on the stove, rolled, sliced and baked into a soft, chewy cookie that everyone will love. They are a sliced cookie that takes a few steps but are so worth the effort. Your family and friends will thank you. I have created a video so you can see all of the steps involved.

I will be posting one or possibly 2 more cookies before the holidays, so stay tuned, and if you haven’t signed up to follow my blog now is a great time. As I always say…

Enjoy then Journey…

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Date-Nut Pinwheel Cookie

These delightful cookies have a brown sugar dough with a delectable filling of dates, nuts, and sugar melded together on the stove, rolled, sliced and baked into a soft, chewy cookie that everyone will love.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword brown sugar cookie, dates, Holiday Cookies, holiday dessert, Pecans, rolled cookie, sliced cookies, sugar cookie, walnuts

Prep Time 2 days

Cook Time 10 minutes

Servings 80 cookies

Author Phyllis

Ingredients

Date-Nut Filling

• 8 oz Dates chopped
• 1/2 cup Walnuts can substitute pecans
• 1/2 cup Water
• 6 tbsp Granulated Sugar

Cookie Dough

• 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
• 6 tbsp Granulated Sugar
• 1/2 cup Butter
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla
• 1 Egg
• 2 cups Flour
• 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

Instructions

Dough

1. Cream butter

2. Add brown sugar, 6 granulated sugar, vanilla and egg. Beat till light and fluffy.

3. Add flour, and baking powder mix until you can form a ball (you will need to mix with a stand mixer with a hook or mix by hand)

4. Form a loaf and cut dough into 4 equal pieces roll into balls and refrigerate until firm. Over night or at least 4 hours.

Filling

1. Chop dates ( I add sugar to the dates and chop in the food processor. You can chop by hand or buy chopped dates)

2. Add to sauce pan with water, and sugar bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often. Add nuts and cool. ( I divide the filling into 4 servings so that I have enough for each roll.)

Cookie

1. Pre heat oven to 350°. Take 1 roll of dough out of the refrigerate at a time so the dough stays firm. Roll each ball on wax paper to about 1/8th of an inch oblong circle.

2. Spread 1/4th of the filling onto the dough.

3. Roll up tightly into the wax paper and chill several hours.

4. remove loaf from refrigerator and slice into 1/8 inch slices

5. Place on a greased cookie sheet and cook for 10 minutes until lightly browned (don't overcook)

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

This cookie freezes very well, you can make them up to a month early and when you defrost they are just like when they came out of the oven.  Be careful not to over cook the cookie, it has a good amount of sugar and it will caramelize and create a very hard cookie.