Fruit-Filled Spritz Cookies Recipe

By lisapearce

Ingredients

• DOUGH:
• 1-1/2 cups chopped dates
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons orange juice
• 2 teaspoons grated orange peel
• 1 cup maraschino cherries, chopped
• 1/2 cup flaked coconut
• 1/2 cup ground nuts
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Confectioners' sugar, optional

Details

Cooking time 45mins
Adapted from tasteofhome.com

Preparation

Step 1

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine the first five ingredients; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; cook and stir for 8 minutes or until thickened. Cool completely. Stir in the cherries, coconut and nuts; set aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and extracts. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
Using a cookie press fitted with a bar disk, press a 12-in.-long strip of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet. Spread fruit filling over dough. Press another strip over filling. Cut into 1-in. pieces (there is no need to separate the pieces). Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
Bake at 375° for 12-15 minutes or until edges are golden. Recut into pieces if necessary. Remove to wire racks to cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired. Yield: about 7-1/2 dozen.

used 2016 got 70 per batch