Visions of Christmases Past

One of our favorite cookie-making projects, as I was growing up, were "Cherry Winks." You not only have to get all your ingredients in order, but you have to do a bit of light prep work.

You'll be adding chopped nuts and chopped dates or raisins to the dough. Do the chopping before you begin mixing ingredients.

You'll also be rolling the teaspoons of dough in crushed corn flakes and topping with a slice of maraschino cherry, so do your crushing and slicing ahead of time, also.

It goes ever so much faster when you have your cookie-making divided into "stations."

Here we are, adding chopped nuts
and chopped raisins - (I can't keep dates on hand... I eat them!)

Next comes the crushed flakes and the cherry slice.

Ready to bake (I could have placed them closer, as they don't spread.)

Tah, dah!

Would you like one? :-)

Here's the recipe:

Cherry Winks

1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
1 tsp. grated lemon peel (opt.)
Cream the above ingredients until fluffy.

Add:
1 egg
1 Tblsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
Mix well.

Stir together and add to creamed mixture:

1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
Mix well.

Stir into the cookie dough:

1/2 cup chopped raisins or dates
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Drop from teaspoon into crushed corn flakes. Toss lightly to coat. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Top each cookie with a cherry slice (approximately 1/4 or 1/6).

Bake at 400 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes.
Important: Don't let them overbrown!

Makes about 3 dozen.
This batch can be successfully doubled.


Enjoy! :-)