Dried Fruits Stuffed Cookies
Servings: 48 cookies
1 1/2 cups [375 mL] filling
  • 1/2 cup [115 g] butter or shortening
  • 1 cup [200 g] sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon [5 mL] vanilla extract
    or
    1 teaspoon [5 mL] nutmeg
    or
    1/2 teaspoon [2.5 mL] lemon extract
  • 1 tablespoon [15 mL] milk
  • 2 1/4 cups [460 g] all-purpose flour, sifted
  • 1 teaspoon [5 mL] baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon [2.5 mL] baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon [2.5 mL] salt
  • Sugar [to sprinkle]
Filling
  • 1/2 cup [100 g] sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon [2.5 mL] salt
  • 1 tablespoon [15 mL] cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup [60 mL] cold water
  • 1/2 cup [125 mL] raisins
  • 1 cup [250 mL] chopped dates
  • 2 tablespoons [30 mL] grated lemon rind
  • 1 tablespoon [15 mL] lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup [125 mL] chopped nuts
  • Preheat oven to 375 to 400°F [190 to 200°C].
  • Cream butter or shortening; well mix in in sugar.
  • Beat in eggs, vanilla extract, nutmeg or lemon extract, and milk.
  • Mix together sifted flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; well mix into eggs mixture.
  • Shape dough into a roll; wrap roll into wax paper and refrigerate dough, as you would refrigerator cookies or refrigerate dough until cold enough to be rolled.
  • Meanwhile, prepare filling.
  • Roll dough until 1/8-inch [3-mm] thick; cut dough, using a 2-inch [5-cm] cookie cutter.
  • Spoon a spoonful cooled filling over the center of half of dough rounds.
  • Cover each cookie with remaining dough rounds; seal edges.
  • Sprinkle cookies with sugar.
  • Arrange cookies onto a greased cookie sheet.
  • Bake into preheated oven, for 8 to 12 minutes.
Filling
  • Into a casserole, mix together sugar, salt and cornstarch.
  • Slowly pour in cold water, stirring until smooth.
  • Stir in raisins, chopped dates and grated lemon rind.
  • Cook mixture until of jam consistency, 220°F [104°C] on top of mixture, for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice and chopped nuts.
  • Leave to cool.