bits of sunshine recipes

Variation on Russian Teacakes

1 1/2 c soft butter
3/4 c powdered sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
3 1/3 c flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 c finely chopped nuts

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
Mix butter, sugar, vanilla and salt.  Add flour and nuts.  Stir until dough holds together.  (If the dough absolutely won't hold together, add a tsp or two of milk - VERY sparingly.)
Shape dough into small balls - 1/2 to 1 inch.  Place on cookie sheet and back for 10 minutes, until set but not brown.
Immediately remove from cookie sheet.  Allow to cool completely.
Melt chocolate coating.
Dip balls to cover partially or completely - or drizzle with chocolate.  Top with sprinkles or chopped nuts if desired. 

{Pictures to come!}

Dutch Spice Cookies

Kruidnootjes bakken, originally uploaded by ::Geertrude::.

6 1/2 Tbs soft butter
7 Tbs brown sugar
dash salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp whit pepper
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup flour
1-2 Tbs milk

Heat oven to 350 degrees F

Mix butter, brown sugar, salt, all spices, baking soda and baking powder well with mixer, fork, pastry cutter - you choose.  Stir in flour and 1 Tbs milk.  Knead together in the bowl, just until dough holds together.  If it is too dry, add a bit more milk - but don't make it too wet.

Make tiny little balls of dough and place on cookie sheet.

Kruidnootjes bakken, originally uploaded by ::Geertrude::.

Bake 10 minutes. 

Enjoy!

This recipe is from my friend Geertrude.  She lives in the Netherlands, and these little cookies are a Sinterklaas treat.  You can read more about it here.

Geertrude translated the recipe and I converted the grams to cups and Tbs.  Mine flattened out a bit more than hers, so I had to leave more space between them on the cookie sheet.  But, oh, are they yummy!  If you like Chai, you will love these cookies!