Barbara's Cardamom Cookies

Submitted by Acerast

"My dear friend, Barbara Weinrich, presents my family with a beautiful tray of Christmas cookies each year. This is my favorite. I love the exotic taste of cardamom and the browned butter icing. (Scandanavian cooks have made a great contribution to Midwest baking :)"

 

• Ready In: 1hr 15mins
• Ingredients: 13
• Yields: 20 bars

ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 large egg, separated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon cardamom
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄3 cup chopped walnuts or 1/3 cup pecans
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• milk, to thin drizzling glaze

directions

1. Cream 1 cup butter and the granulated and brown sugars until fluffy.
2. Add the egg yolk and 1 teaspoon vanilla, mix well.
3. Stir in the flour, cardamom and salt.
4. Spread in an ungreased 10 x 15" baking pan.
5. Beat the egg white until bubbly but not forming peaks.
6. Brush the dough with the egg white and sprinkle with the chopped nuts.
7. Bake at 275°F for 1 hour.
8. In a saucepan, melt the 1 1/2 Tablespoon butter until it browns slightly, remove from heat.
9. Beat in 1 cup confectioner's sugar and the 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
10. Add enough milk to make a"drizzling" consistency.
11. Drizzle on baked dough.
12. Cut into bars.

Reviews

[Miss_Elaine]

Turned out excellent, and delicious! The dough was a little crumbly to "spread" in the jelly roll pan. I thought perhaps I did something wrong, and it made it difficult to brush egg white on it as well. I simply pressed the crumbs down and made the best of it. But I was surprised that it came out just fine. Next time, I will make balls and press them into cookies. Thanks!

 

[birdlady05]

These were the best cookies I have ever made. They are wonderful and easy to make. Next time I would line the pan with parchment paper.

 

[nsbirdy]

I just finished glazing and sampling. These are now on my list of cookies to make every christmas!

 

[MollyJ]

I made these cookies with margarine and they still turned out marvelous. Very rich, wonderful treat. Will be made again, if not sooner, for Christmas.

 

[najwa]

Excellent cookies! I used almonds instead of pecans .. Simple to make and quicker than regular cookie recipes as the dough is spread in a pan .. I will make these again and I think I will try making regular cookies with them too .. thanks for sharing!