Ingredients

Michigan Rocks

Submitted by Catherine Neuschler, Bloomington, Ind

Here’s my favorite family recipe for cookies we always make at Christmas. And no, the cookies don’t taste anything like rocks.

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups unsalted butter

3 cups brown sugar

3 eggs

1 pound raisins, soaked in 1 cup hot water (until somewhat soft) and drained

1 teaspoon baking soda

5 ½ - 6 cups flour

Pinch salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons cloves

1 pound dates, chopped

1 pound walnuts, chopped

Preparation

Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With an electric mixer, cream butter. Gradually add brown sugar and cream well. Add eggs. Beat thoroughly. Soak raisins in hot water; when soft, drain and reserve water. Dissolve baking soda in hot raisin water. Sift dry ingredients together. Add batter alternately with raisins, dates and nuts. Drop onto cookie sheets. Bake for 15 minutes. (Cookies will not spread out very much.)

Makes 8-10 dozen cookies.