My mom got this recipe from her boss – he used to pay my sister and me to bake his Christmas cookies every year. These were his favorite; I think the recipe came from his uncle. It has become one of my favorites when I am looking for a soft, chewy, spiced cookie.
Cookie Dough:
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
1 egg
3 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
¼ tsp. allspice
¼ tsp. cloves
Cream butter and sugar together; add the egg and blend completely. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour. While dough is chilling, prepare filling.
Filling:
1½ cups chopped dates
½ cup white sugar
½ cup water
Put all ingredients into a one-quart saucepan. Over medium heat, bring to a boil and cook until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and cool.
To prepare cookies, divide dough in half. Roll dough into a rectangle, keeping dough between ¼ and ½ inch thick. Spread half of the filling over dough, leaving a 1” space at the edge of the dough uncovered. Roll dough up, jelly-roll style, and cut into ½ inch slices. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes on a greased cookie sheet.
