Brown sugar cookies

Brown sugar cookies in a gift tray with pecans and a buttercream frosting.

If you are giving a gift to several people, start by baking a big batch of Hallmark stylist Andy Newcom's brown sugar cookies. Brown sugar, raisins and pecans or walnuts provide a rustic, nutty flavor to the cookie dough. Spoon the buttercream icing over the top to complete this cookie sensation. No one said you have to give them all away!

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Ingredients

For the cookies

½ cup vegetable shortening
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour, sifted
2 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground cloves
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
2 cups raisins
½ cup walnuts or pecans

For the icing

1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
4 Tbsp. heavy cream
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
Walnut or pecan halves (optional)

Directions

To make the cookies

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Put shortening in bowl and mix in brown sugar.
  3. Add eggs one at a time and mix completely.
  4. Add dry ingredients, and mix thoroughly.
  5. Fold in raisins and nuts.
  6. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until cookies get slightly golden brown. Let cool.

To make the icing

  1. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add brown sugar and stir continuously.
  3. When the mixture starts to boil, keep stirring and let boil for 2 minutes. Then, stir in cream and bring mixture back to a boil.
  4. Remove saucepan from heat and cool until lukewarm.
  5. Gradually add sifted powdered sugar, and stir until smooth.
  6. Spoon over cooled cookies and let icing cool; top with walnut or pecan halves if desired.
What's better than a batch of Christmas cookies? Nothing, really. Check out more delicious cookie recipes: