Sweet Memories of Childhood

I am going to take a brief break from my cake posts to share a cookie recipe that is very special to me.
Not only is it the best cookie I have ever had, these were made best by my Great -Grandmother and always in her cookie jar.
For years my family has tried to make them like she did and no one has been successful. I was beginning to think either she had a magic touch or left out a few details on the cryptic recipe card that prevented us from mastering these cookies.
On Mother's day I decided to give them another try in memory of my great-grandmother, I remained optimistic, I used my baking know how combined with the recipe scratched out on the card and ...IT WORKED!!!
They are almost cake-like in texture with a light cinnamon & sugar flavor.

Grandma Locke's Cinnamon Cookies

Ingredients

1 egg

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup shortening ( softened , almost melted ) 

1/2 cup buttermilk ( she would sometimes substitute sour milk )

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 1/4 cups sifted flour ( MUST be sifted, I'm sure that is where I went wrong in the past ) 

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp vanilla 

Cream the shortening, egg, and brown sugar. 

Add buttermilk and vanilla.

In a large bowl sift flower and mix in salt, baking soda, baking powder and nutmeg.

Add to creamed mixture but mix gently until combined. I use a wooden spoon for this recipe.

Pinch off pieces of dough and roll into a rope, dip in a mixture of 1tsp cinnamon and 1 cup granulated sugar.

 ~If dough is too sticky to roll add small amounts of sifted flour until it is smooth but still very soft before rolling in cinnamon - sugar.

Swirl onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 F for 11 minutes. 

( the ingredients are listed in no particular order on the recipe card ) 

These cookies immediately bring back memories of my childhood and great times spent baking with my great -grandmother. They provided me with a much needed break from caking and finally perfecting them made me feel like I could conquer anything!
EXACTLY what I needed during this hectic wedding cake season.

Next post I will be back to caking...just wanted to share this special treat with you!

Enjoy!