Rocks (Mom's recipe)

By kaydeis

A traditional Christmas cookie -- raisins, dates and walnuts, with just enough dough to hold them together! Not pretty, but very tasty! And 1 recipe makes a LOT of cookies!

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs, separated
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 Tbs warm water or buttermilk
• 2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1 lb chopped dates
• 1 lb raisins
• 1 lb chopped or broken walnuts

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 350*

2. Cream butter, add sugar and combine thoroughly.

3. Beat egg yolks and add to butter and sugar mixture, then add soda which has been dissolved in water or buttermilk (for a softer cookie).

4. Beat the egg whites until they are fluffy but not stiff, then fold them into the dough.

5. Add the fruit and nuts, which have been mixed with a little of the flour, to prevent them sticking together.

6. Combine remaining flour with salt and spices. Add this to the dough, stirring only until mixed. (I have always had to use my hands at this point... and a REALLY large bowl!)

7. Drop by teaspoonfuls on to greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350* for 12 to 15 minutes. Dough may be chilled before dropping cookies, if desired. (Hide it, though... my family seeks this dough out to eat raw!)

Servings: 144
Yield: 12 dozen cookies

Oven Temperature: 350°F

Nutrition Facts
Nutrition (per serving): 71 calories, 31 calories from fat, 3.7g total fat, 7.8mg cholesterol, 22.6mg sodium, 55.7mg potassium, 9.2g carbohydrates,