Chewy Date Pinwheels Recipe

By traciesparks

Whenever we'd come to see her, my grandma always had cookies for us children. Now, when I make these pinwheels for my own family, I think of her. I've taken Chewy Date Pinwheels to church potlucks and reunions, too, and the response has always been the same—Mmmmm—I need another!" My husband and I have five children, ranging in age from 8 years to 8 months. We have a strawberry patch, and we grow popcorn and lots of other crops besides for sale at a local grocery and roadside market. On my own, I enjoy quilts—I pieced 114 of them last year alone!

Ingredients

• FILLING:
• 1-1/2 cups chopped dates
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• COOKIE DOUGH:
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Details

Servings 24
Preparation time 25mins
Cooking time 40mins

Preparation

Step 1

In a large saucepan, combine the dates, sugar and water. Cook and stir over medium heat for 7-9 minutes or until thickened. Stir in nuts; set aside to cool.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, soda, salt and cinnamon; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Divide dough in half.

On a floured surface, roll out one portion of dough into a 1/4-in. thick rectangle. Spread with half of filling. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting with a long side. Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Wrap each roll in plastic wrap; refrigerate overnight.

Unwrap dough; cut into 1/2-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 12-14 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: about 4 dozen.


Nutrition Facts: 1 serving (2 each) equals 327 calories, 10 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 47 mg cholesterol, 244 mg sodium, 57 g carbohydrate, 2 g fiber, 4 g protein.

Chewy Date Pinwheels published in Country Woman May/June 1991, p31