Catholic Review photographer enjoys 100-year-old cookie recipe

Using a 100-year-old recipe handed down by her maternal great grandmother, my wife, Sue, continues a family tradition started decades ago that makes our Christmases extra special.

With the help of a nearly 80-year-old cookie press made by Sue’s maternal grandfather, my wife bakes vanilla-butter cookies that our family enjoys on the holiday.

“I started making them for my grandfather with the kids when they were little, about 30 years ago,” said Sue, whose children are now starting their own families and whose maternal great grandmother died at 100. “It was so cute. He would give me the same tin back each year with his name on it so I would know it was his. I still have the tin, recipe and press as a family treasure.”

No two batches are the same since the recipe isn’t very precise.

Sugar Vanilla Butter Cookies

Ingredients

3 sticks of softened butter

3¼ cups flour

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

Vanilla (2 tablespoons or more)

Directions

• Mix ingredients by hand until they reach a paste consistency

• Use a rolling pin or a cookie press to press the dough thin

• Use a cookie cutter mold with holiday shapes to make cookies (or cut dough into circles)

• Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray

• Place cookies on cookie sheet

• Bake at 375° Fahrenheit until cookie edges are brown (watch the oven)

These are brittle cookies. Handle with care!

Email Kevin Parks at kparks@CatholicReview.org

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