Sunday, December 20, 2015

Cherry Launds, Mr Pixie's Favourite Cookie

Mr. Pixie loves Christmas treats. There is talk of 'the cookie list' months in advance. One year was ridiculous and I made something like 20 different kinds of treats. One year I didn't make one of the 'staples' and I didn't hear the end of it until the following Christmas.

Mr. Pixie's very favourite are these thumb print cookies. In his granny's recipe book they were called Cherry Launds. Being given permission to copy from her handwritten recipe book was a big deal. She was known for omitting key ingredients when relaying recipes, ensuring that her version was superior.


Below you'll find Nonna's recipe. I'm sure at some point they were topped with a cherry (hence the name) but we've always filled them with homemade jam.

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg separated
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
chopped nuts
jam

Cream together butter, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla until light and fluffy.

Stir in flour. Chill for 1/2 hour.

Shape dough into 1" balls.

Lightly whisk the egg white and dip the balls, then roll them in the chopped nuts. Place on a cookie sheet and press a dent in the middle with your thumb.

Bake at 350 for about 12 - 15 minutes.

Put jam in the dent. I wait until they are cooled to do this. The heat from the cookies may liquefy the jam and it can become runny/messy. Use whatever jam you like. The ones above have blueberry/strawberry and
raspberry, but I've used apricot too and it was totally delicious.

Now just gobble them up!

10 comments:

  1. What an honour - sharing in Nonna's recipe - thanks!

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  2. Yippee!!!! So many thank you's!! And as Nox says, an heirloom recipe is truly wonderful!! Must get some special jam to make these babies, I can't wait. Thanks for your generosity, I will keep you posted as to how mine come out. Love and hugs, sheila

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  3. Oh, and I forgot to say...my husband does that with his recipes also. He leaves out key ingredients to me, saying that when I have all his good recipes, I will know all his secrets and leave him. It's his "security" lol. His fine cook of a granny may have taught him that one too!!

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    1. That is so funny. I never think of doing that... but perhaps I should start ;)

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  4. Christmas wishes for sharing your beloved recipe. The cookies look so very delicious.

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  5. Wow! thank you so much for sharing Nonna's recipe!
    I have always felt that if the recipes are not shared, there will be no one to pass them along sometime- thank you and sweet holiday wishes! xo

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  6. YUM!!!!!!
    Merry Christmas - Sandy Claus

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  7. Oooh ou SWEET LADY!! Just when I thought you couldn't be MORE than you already ARE in my world you go and do this! You just put a whole new meaning to "The Cherry on Top"! Grin

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  8. I am planning on making these for Epiphany. . . expecting that they will be just that. lol Thank you for sharing them!

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  9. Just a quick follow up. . . we made the Launds for Epiphany yesterday. . . because any reason to make cookies is a good one. OMG they are SO delicious! We filled them with raspberry and strawberry and used macadamias for the nuts on the outside! I have a plethora of family holiday cookies and cake recipes from my grandmother and hald-dozen great aunts but many of them as SO involved and time consuming! Let's just say these will be on our holiday cookie list from now on! Thanks to you and Mr Pixie for sharing the recipe! :)

    nicolas

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