Walnut Raisin Cookies

Recipes
June 13, 2011

Walnut Raisin Cookies with Coffee Flavored Icing

Spices, nuts and raisins give these cookies a POW of a taste sensation so everyone will say, “wow”! Put a little dollop of icing on each of the low-fat cookies - the fat in the icing is modest, and a little goes a long way for pure pleasure on the palate.

This recipe makes 36 cookies and about 1 cup of icing.

Walnut Raisin Cookies Ingredients:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 large egg, well beaten
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cloves (ground)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup brewed coffee, chilled
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Coffee Flavored Icing Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)
2 tablespoons coffee, brewed strong and hot
1 teaspoon dry cocoa
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Walnut Raisin Cookies Instructions:
Pre-heat oven to 400° F.
Grease a baking sheet. 
In a medium size bowl, cream together the shortening with the sugar. 
Add beaten egg. Mix thoroughly. 
In a separate bowl, sift the flour and measure, then sift with the other dry ingredients: salt, baking powder, cinnamon and cloves. 
To the sugar/shortening mixture, alternate adding the flour mixture with the cold coffee until incorporated. 
Add the vanilla, raisins and nuts and mix thoroughly. 
Add more flour if necessary. Using a large tablespoon, drop cookie dough onto baking sheet and bake in 400° F. oven about 15 minutes.

Coffee Flavored Icing Instructions:
In a medium size bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until well incorporated. 
Add the hot coffee, cocoa, and vanilla extract and beat until smooth and thick.

Plating Instructions:
Put a little dollop of icing on each of the low-fat cookies and sprinkle with a few crushed walnuts if you like.