Saturday, December 13, 2008

Date Filled Oatmeal Cookies


These are the real deal...
I was going through my old recipe binder that my Mom gave me back in December 87
and found the original recipe for Date Filled Cookies.

Frequent readers of this kitchen rag will remember that I published an internet version of this
in February of this year. I did promise to keep searching and I did found it.
As so often is the case when you make something for years and years you leave out
the " common sense details that everyone should know" Please read the details at the bottom
where I will fill you in on what I found missing.

The recipe is a follows,


Oatmeal Cookies- Grandma G
2 cups oatmeal

2 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 cup margarine a little water (12 tsp)

Date filling

1 cup chopped dates

1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice

1/2 tablespoon butter ( I don't remember using lemon juice + butter
DMG)

Cook slowly until thick (can mash).


All this is my take on it...

Mix the sugar and room temperature margarine, I used butter, add the soda and salt.
Use unsalted butter or margarine or it will be too salty.
Once that is creamed add the flour and then the instant oatmeal.

I rolled them on parchment paper and put them on a cookie sheet to cool in the fridge.

Preheat the oven to 350, and cook for 15 min.

I used the compressed packet of dates (they are a dry staple on the Prairies).
Fresh Mejoule dates were unheard of.
Slowly heat and reduce the dates until they are thick like a stiff jam.
This will scorch if you let it.
Use a knife to spread a thick dollop of date in the centre of the cookie and screw them together.

The results are in the picture.

I had mine with a cup of tea in the " Weekend Morning Show" mug that Ron Robinson
mailed to me. I can't remember the question that I had to answer to win it.
I miss listening to Ron every weekend with his tales of walking in to work on
Portage Ave.
BW

10 comments:

Catherine said...

My has a recipe for the exact same cookies and we make them every year for christmas! Except I don't like the date filling so we make them without it. My mom calls them Canadian Oatmeal Shortbread. They're really delicious.

Anonymous said...

When I first looked at the photo I thought they were peanut butter and jelly sandwiches :) This sounds great, I never would have thought to pair dates with oatmeal cookies but yum!

Brad G said...

The general X
It's a Scottish traditional recipe.
No doubt came over from the UK.
Dates provide a sweet contrast to the sweet saltiness of the cookies.

Megan, as above don't know if peanut butter would work with these, worth a try!
BW

amycaseycooks said...

I have some dates that I was just looking for the right recipe for. Found it!!

Sew Lady Sew! said...

My mom used to make these back in the 60's. My family called them "Sinkers" because you couldn't wait to sink your teeth into them. Also, your teeth sink pretty far in these thick cookies. Thanks for the recipe. It disappeared from our family traditions and I've looked for it ever since.

Unknown said...

Could you put the filling in them and freeze them? Or would they get too soggy? Thanks, Laurie

grace petersen said...

My recipe also disappeared a couple of years ago. It called to roll the dough into logs, wrap in wax paper and chill in fridge or freezer then slice and bake. I think there was vanilla in the filling too. Anyone ever hear of that one?

grace petersen said...

My recipe also disappeared a couple of years ago. It called to roll the dough into logs, wrap in wax paper and chill in fridge or freezer then slice and bake. I think there was vanilla in the filling too. Anyone ever hear of that one?

BW said...

these freeze well!

BW said...

freeze well not soggy