Texas Christmas Cookies

If you like a lightly spiced batter clinging to chunks of walnuts, dates and raisins, this cookie is for you! A friend brought this recipe to a cookie exchange, and it became an immediate family favorite. I've baked them every year since. It makes a big batch - 13 dozen - but I haven't tried to halve the recipe as they are too popular! You can decrease the amount a sugar a bit if using pre-chopped dates.

• Ready In: 35 mins
• Yields: 13 dozen

Ingredients

• 4  eggs
• 2  cups sugar
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2  teaspoons ground cloves
• 2  lbs  nuts, chopped
• 1 1⁄2 cups  melted butter or 1 1⁄2 cups margarine
• 1  lb raisins
• 1  lb dates, chopped
• 1  teaspoon baking soda, dissolved in
•  hot water
• 3  cups flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven 325F or 350°F Beat eggs well; Gradually add sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nuts, butter, raisins, dates, baking soda and flour, in order; Mix thoroughly.
2. Drop by teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheet.
3. Bake in slow oven: 12 minutes at 350F or 15 minutes at 325F for a softer cookie.