Fruitcake Cookies

 Ingredients:

• ½ cup shortening
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• ¼ cup buttermilk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• ½ tsp. baking powder
• ½ tsp. salt
• 1 cup chopped dates
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup chopped candied cherries
• 5 dozen pecan halves (optional)

 Method:

Combine shortening, sugar and egg in a large bowl, stirring well; stir in buttermilk. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; stir into brown sugar mixture. Stir in dates, pecans and cherries; cover and chill 1 hour. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto lightly greased cookie sheets. Top each cookie with a pecan half, if desired. Bake at 375 degrees F for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Yield: 5 dozen

 Tested in the THASC kitchen. Photo by THASC.

 THASC is a unique small American business producing cards and other promotional products.

www.thasc.com