Dutch Cookies

These lightly spiced butter cookies are similar to Janhagel, a popular Dutch cookie. Jane Valentine Talbert of Encinitas, California, uses pecans instead of the more traditional almonds. **Cookies will keep, layered between sheets of wax paper or parchment, in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 weeks. Taken from the Scandinavia international recipes from Epicurious.com for ZWT.

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 48
• Yields: 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1  cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1  cup sugar
• 1  large egg, separated
• 1  cup  chopped pecans (about 1/4 lb)

Directions

1. Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325°F
2. Butter a 15- by 10- by 1-inch baking pan, then line bottom with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 ends, and butter foil.
3. Whisk together flour, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl until combined.
4. Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes in a stand mixer (preferably fitted with paddle attachment) or 6 minutes with a handheld. Beat in yolk; reduce speed to low, then mix in flour mixture until combined.
5. Spread batter evenly in pan with an offset spatula.
6. Lightly beat egg white in a small bowl, then brush some of it over batter and sprinkle evenly with pecans.
7. Bake until top is golden brown and edges begin to pull away from sides of pan, 35 to 40 minutes.
8. Cool in pan on a rack 10 minutes, then transfer with foil to a cutting board; discard foil.
9. Cut while still warm into 2-inch squares or, by halving squares diagonally, into triangles and cool completely on rack.