St. Nicholas Day Cookies

 

If you've followed my blog long, you've read about our lovely neighbor Ms. Kay.  She was a young child during World War II and the Occupation of Luxembourg (do pop over and read that post, it's a living history lesson).  Anyway, growing up in Luxembourg, Ms. Kay was used to celebrating St. Nicholas Day (December 6), but adapted to the American Christmas over the years.   Each year, the girls and I do something "traditional" and surprise her with it.  This year we made traditional St. Nicholas Day Cookies.

Recipe:
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
3 tablespoons milk
3 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
3/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
3/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
 2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cup) butter, cut into pieces

In small bowl, cream brown sugar and milk, set aside.

In large bowl or food processor combine flour, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, baking powder and salt.   Cut in butter with, blend until mixture resembles cornmeal.   Stir in brown sugar mixture, mixing well.

Form dough into two 7X2 inch rolls and wrap in plastic wrap.  Refrigerate 6 hours or overnight.

Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling out.

Roll dough out on lightly floured board to `/8 or 1/4 inch thickness.   Dip cookie cutters in flour before cutting out cookies.  Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes, or until cookie edges start to lightly brown.   Cool and decorate with royal icing.

Royal Icing:
4 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons meringue powder
1/3 cup warm water

These cookies are dense and firm, almost hard (think ginger snap), with a lightly sweet and spicy flavor.   The frosting adds just a hint more sweetness.   These go great with coffee or a cup of hot tea in the evenings...and they may make elderly European ladies squeal like a little girl when she finds them waiting by her front door early in the morning on St. Nicholas Day, wink.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!