Pennsylvania Dutch Cookies Recipes

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH MOLASSES COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream the shortening and sugar together. Add the eggs, molasses and sour cream to which the baking soda has been added.
• Sift the flour and spices together and add to the wet ingredients.
• Drop teaspoonfuls of dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees farenheit for 10-15 minutes.

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH COOKIES KIFFELS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, egg yolks and flour; beat until smooth.
• Shape into 1-inch balls; place in a container with waxed paper separating each layer.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• FOR THE FILLING, combine walnuts and 3 3/4 cups sugar (the mixture will be dry).
• In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into nut mixture.
• Add extracts and a few drops of water if necessary until filling reaches a spreading consistency.
• Place remaining sugar in a bowl; roll cream cheese balls in sugar until completely covered.
• Place a few balls at a time between two sheets of waxed paper.
• Roll balls into 2 1/2-inch circles.
• Gently spread about 2 teaspoons of filling over each.
• Roll up; place seam side down on ungreased baking sheets.
• Curve the ends slightly.
• Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool on wire racks.
• Yield: about 8 dozen.

BUSHEL COOKIES (PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH)

Steps:

• In a very large bowl, cream shortening and sugar together. Add eggs two at a time. Beat well.
• Sift dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon) into another very large bowl.
• Grind raisins and nuts (for you modern-day cooks, use food processor) and add to sifted flour mixture.
• Add vanilla or orange peel and mix well.
• Drop onto ungreased cookie sheets. With a lightly dusted fork, press lightly to make a criss-cross pattern on each cookie.
• Bake at 375 F for 8-10 minutes or until cookie is golden around the edges.

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH SOFT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375; line cookie sheets with baking parchment paper for best results, but you can grease or use non-stick spray if necessar-- I use the non-stick spray all the time.
• Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
• Cream together sugar and butter.
• Add eggs one at a time and beat; then add the vanilla and beat.
• Stir the flour mixture, alternating with the buttermilk, into the sugar mixture, stirring until smooth.
• Drop by tablespoons or a small scoop (about 1 tablespoon capacity) onto the prepared cookie sheet.
• Sprinkle the tops of the cookies with additional granulated sugar (I will flatten the tops just very slightly to hold more sugar) and bake for 7-10 minutes, until just firm.
• Wait just a minute and then remove from the cookie sheets and cool on a rack.
• *Asa substitute for the buttermilk, add 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice to a measuring cup and add milk to make 1 cup; let stand for 10 minutes before using.

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH SOFT SUGAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Will need 3 or 4 cookie sheets covered with parchment or foil; position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat oven to 375°.
• In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; mix well.
• In the bowl of a stand electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together until combined, then beat in the vanilla.
• Add the eggs one at a time, beating smooth after each addition.
• Decrease speed and beat in a third of the flour mixture, then half of the buttermilk, and another third of the flour mixture; scrape the bowl and beater often.
• Beat in the remaining buttermilk, then the remaining flour mixture; scrape the bowl/beater, then remove the bowl from the mixer and give the dough one final mixing with a large rubber spatula.
• Drop tablespoons of the dough 3 or 4 inches apart onto the prepared pans.
• Bake cookies for about 15 minutes or until they spread and rise-they should be lightly golden.
• Slide the papers off the pans onto racks; after the cookies have cooled, detach them from the paper and store them between layers of parchment or wax paper in a tin or plastic container with tight-fitting lid.

PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH FUNNY CAKES

Steps:

• Combine 1 cup sugar, cocoa, water, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat to the boiling point, but do not boil. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, cream together 1 1/2 cup sugar and butter. Beat in eggs. Stir in milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder; mix into the creamed mixture. Divide batter into the pastry shells. Pour 1/3 of the cocoa mixture on top of the cake batter in each pastry shell.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 35 minutes, or till cake is done.