Date Pinwheel Cookies

I work with a lot of volunteers at a local history museum. Most of the volunteers are retirement age or older, with the average age about 75. They are all great cooks and one in particular, a 91year old retired gym teacher, is an excellent baker. Mary Jane comes in every Thursday to work in our research library and always brings cake or cookies to share at lunch time. She's one of my egg customers and likes to bake with my rich, free range eggs. This week she brought in her Date Pinwheel Refrigerator Cookies. They were so buttery delicious I thought you might like the recipe. The recipe makes a big batch and since its a refrigerator cookie it will be great to have on hand to slice and bake this fall right into the holidays. It will be very comforting to know I have a roll or two of this cookie dough in my freezer just waiting for me to slice and bake.

Mary Jane's Date Pinwheel Refrigerator Cookies

Heat oven to 375 degrees

In a medium saucepan cook together until thick 2 cups of pitted chopped dates, one cup granulated sugar and one cup water until thick. After mixture thickens you may add cup of finely chopped walnuts. Let mixture cool while you make the cookie dough.

Cream together a cup of butter  (2 sticks) with 2 cups of granulated sugar. Beat in two large eggs, one at a time and a teaspoon of vanilla.  In a separate bowl stir together 3 1/2 cups of sifted all purpose floor (sift it into the cups), a teaspoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of salt. Beat the dry ingredients into the butter and sugar mixture one cup at a time.

Divide the dough into four parts. Roll out the first part into a six inch by ten inch rectangle. Spread with 1/4 of the date mixture and roll dough starting with a long side to form a log. Repeat with the other three portions of dough. Wrap each in plastic wrap and freeze for at least 30 minutes or up to three months.

Unwrap dough, slice into 1/4 in rounds and bake on parchment lined cookie sheets for 12 to 14 minutes (depending on your oven) or until cookies are golden brown. Remove cookies from sheet and cool on wire racks.