cheddar and date cookies ~ holiday week

Welcome to a week of Christmas cheer! 🙂 I’ve teamed up with blogging friends to bring you something new every day this week. We’re starting the week off sharing recipes ~ and mine is something different ~ cheddar and date cookies!

Whether you call them cookies or biscuits ~ as in the type that the British serve with tea ~ these cheddar and date treats are a grown-up nibble. Not to say kids won’t like them too, but this sweet and savory combination is geared more to adult tastes.

This is a recipe that my Aunt B. always makes at Christmas ~ and she only offers these to her favorite people! She shared the recipe with me, and it was fun to make them with Bluwatermom this weekend.

I made folded squares, but folded half rounds work well too ~ or full rounds with the date filling between two layers of cheddar dough (this version is mom’s fave). Choose whatever style is your preference.

Making these with Bluwatermom meant we were certain to use “Tin Cup”. This measuring cup is older than I am, and I once remarked that mom could not do anything in the kitchen unless she measured with her tin cup! We consider it a family heirloom at this point. 🙂

Here’s the recipe and a few photos to help with the details ~

cheddar and date cookies ~~~

cheese dough ~
2 sticks of butter – softened to room temp
8 oz. sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese – finely grated
2 cups plain flour
pinch of salt (optional)

Combine with a fork or pastry cutter to blend, and finish by hand kneading to create a smooth dough. The photos are half of the dough recipe. It is easier to mix in two batches. (Oh, and that aluminum bowl was part of the original set that included Tin Cup ~ still used anytime we need a bowl in the kitchen!)

date and nut filling ~
10 oz. package of dates (diced with sugar)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water (add a bit during cooking if needed)
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Use dates straight from the package, or you can chop a bit more if you prefer them to be a finer consistency. I pulsed them a few times in the food processor. Combine dates, sugar and water ~ simmer until dates soften and the liquid reduces to a syrup. Add chopped nuts, stir to combine and remove from heat to cool.

Form dough into rounds between sheets of wax paper and chill at least one hour or longer. Return to room temp to roll out. Use plenty of flour on the board and rolling pin ~ this dough is sticky and a bit fragile. Cut into 2′ squares or 3″ rounds, depending on your desired results. I made folded squares, but folded half rounds work well too ~ or full rounds with the date filling between two layers of cheddar dough. Fill with about a half teaspoon of date & nut filling.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use a flexible spatula to transfer filled cookies to parchment paper covered baking sheet. Bake 16-18 minutes until edges are slightly browned. 

These are even better when the flavors have a chance to marry and mellow ~ so it’s good to make them a day or two ahead of time. They go well with another family recipe ~ Susan’s Favorite Cheese Bites ~ so named because my sister can eat an entire batch by herself unless we hide them! I hope you give either (or both!) of these a try. They will add something different to your holiday treat tray ~ and like my Aunt B. you can share them with your favorite people!

Check out the other goodies from my friends Vicki & Jennifer at 2 Bees in a Pod, Coco at The Crowned Goat, Lisa at Concord Cottage and Angie at The Altered Past. There are cakes and donuts and cookies and more!

We will bring you something new from each blog, every day this week. Tomorrow it’s all about special gift wrap – see you back here tomorrow!