black walnut cookies

Something rich and dark... but not chocolate. Spread a festive frosting over these cookies to celebrate a special occasion.

Makes 4 dozen

3 Cups Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Cream of tartar
3/4 Cup Butter
1-1/8 Cup Brown sugar, packed
1/4 Cup Sugar
1 Egg, beaten
1 tsp Vanilla extract
3/4 Cup Black walnuts
3/4 Cup Shredded coconut

In a mixing bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking soda and cream of tartar. Set aside.

In a seperate, large mixing bowl, cream the butter. Gradually add the sugars; beat until fluffly. Add the beaten egg and vanilla extract to the creamed butter and mix well.

Grind the black walnut (if bought whole) and coconut in a food processor or blender. Add them to the creamed butter mixture. Mix in the flour mixture and blend well. Chill for 30 minutes.

Remove the dough, then shape into two rolls about 2" each in diameter. Wrap each roll in plastic wrap; chill again for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease or spray cookie sheet(s) with vegetable oil. Remove dough from the plastic wrap. Cut into 1/8-inch slices. Arrange slices 1" apart on cookie sheet(s), and bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

(For festive occasions, frosting can be applied to the top of each cookie after they have been removed from the oven. Confectioner's sugar can also be applied and pressed into each dough slice before baking to give each cookie a 'jeweled' appearance.)