Recipe Talk

My husband's mother is deep into Alzheimer's and is not expected to be with us much longer. She used to make him cookies that were sort of like the ones you see in the grocery store today, slice and bake with a design in the middle, but they did not taste like those. The ones she made had bells or stars and the dough around them was white, then when you sliced them, there were the stars or bells in the center surrounded by the white dough. I don't think they tasted like regular sugar cookies or refrigerator cookies, although they had somewhat of an almond flavoring. I sure hope someone can help me find this recipe. It would mean a lot to my husband if I presented him with a plateful of these cookies that he hasn't seen since childhood. No one in the family has the recipe either, and it hasn't turned up in any of her Lutheran Ladies group cookbooks that she had from back then. She is in her late 80s if that would give a time-frame for a reference maybe. But, any help at all would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so very much!

My aunt is 77 years young, sound mind and still cooks and bakes these days.

Unbelievable on how well she gets around.

She said she recalled a BHG cookbook, recipe for ice box cookies.

She said she divided the dough in 3 or 4 parts.
Food colored each.

Rolled the dough out for vanilla cookies, then rolled the dough out for the green or red bells or yellow stars.

She would cut the vanilla cookie rounds , then take a small cookie cutter of a bell or star, and cut the centers out, then cut new centers from the colored cookie dough. Put then in the center of the vanilla cookie and as they baked they went back together and filled in the centers..

Bells and Star shaped were real popular back then..

She said it was work, but she did it for her 4 kids. They made the slice and bake cookies,
and they were not cheap, and there was cookie press cookies with stars and bells drop cookie. But she never made thoes.

She said the cookies his moma made were better, as they were home made with love.

Hope this helps!

REFRIGERATOR SLICE-N-BAKE COOKIES

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1 1/2 c. sugar

1 c. shortening

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 3/4 c. flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. mace

1/2 tsp. salt

Cream sugar and shortening until fluffy. Add eggs and
vanilla; beat well. Mix dry ingredients; add to sugar mixture.
Shape into logs, about 1 1/2-inch in diameter. Wrap in wax
paper; refrigerate overnight or up to a week. To bake, preheat
oven to 350 degrees; slice in 1/4-inch slices. Place on cookie sheet,
1-inch apart. Bake 8 to 10 minutes; remove cookies immediate-
ly.
Variations: May add chocolate or cherry chips to dough
or sprinkle with sugar before baking.

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VANILLA SLICE-AND-BAKE COOKIES

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1/2 c. butter, softened

1 c. sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

1 3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. chopped pecans
(optional)

Cream butter; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add
egg and vanilla, almond extract; beat well. Combine flour, soda and salt; add
to creamed mixture, beating well. Stir in chopped pecans.
Shape dough into 2 long rolls, 1 inch in diameter; wrap the
rolls in waxed paper and chill for 2 hours or until firm.
Unwrap rolls and cut into 1/4-inch slices. Place on
ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 400 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.
Cool slightly on cookie sheets; remove to wire racks. Yield:
About 6 1/2 dozen.
Note: Dough may be frozen for up to 3 months.