Quick Date Drops

Drop cookies are the ones you make when you want something from the oven fast: no chilling, no rolling, no cutters. You cream, you stir, you scoop, you bake. These pack a chewy hit of dates and crunchy walnuts into every bite.

The dates do double duty. They sweeten the cookie naturally and keep the crumb moist and chewy as it cools, so these do not go dry and hard the way plain sugar cookies sometimes can.

Warm ground cinnamon and cloves give them an old-fashioned, almost spice-cake flavor that suits the dates beautifully.

Watch them closely toward the end and pull them while still pale, around the 12-minute mark. Overbaked, the dates turn tough and the edges go harsh. A couple of minutes resting on the hot sheet helps them set before they move to the rack.

Pro Tips

• Chop the dates small and toss them with a little of the flour before folding in. Floured dates will not clump together in the dough.
• Pull the cookies while they are still pale. They firm up as they cool, and overbaking dries out the dates.
• Space the spoonfuls well apart, since these spread a little as they bake.

Variations

• Swap the walnuts for pecans, or leave the nuts out for a nut-free version.
• Add the grated zest of an orange. Orange and date are a natural match.
• Stir in a handful of chocolate chips for a sweeter, kid-friendly take.