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Kiffels: Pennsylvani Dutch Cookies

These are actually Pennsylvania Dutch Cookies. Here is a bit about them the Pennsylvanian Dutch and the Amish.

Who are the Amish? Are they the same as the Pennsylvania Dutch?

The Amish are a religious group who live in settlements in
22 states and Ontario, Canada. The oldest group of Old Order Amish, about 16-18,000 people live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Amish stress humility, family and community, and separation from the world.

Although Lancaster Amish are Pennsylvania Dutch, all Pennsylvania Dutch are not Amish. The Pennsylvania Dutch are natives of Central Pennsylvania, particularly Lancaster and its surrounding counties. Unlike the Amish, they are not all one religion. Instead, their common bond is a mainly German background (Pennsylvania Dutch is actually Pennsylvania Deutsch, or German). They also have Welsh, English, Scottish, Swiss, and French ancestry.

Also known as walnut horn cookies.

1 pound butter (no substitutes), softened
2 packages (One-8 ounce), (One--3 ounce) cream cheese, softened
4 egg yolks
4 1/2 cups all purpose flour

FILLING

4 cups ground walnuts (about 1 pound)
5 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, divided
4 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract

In a mixing bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, egg yolks and flour; beat until smooth. Shape into 1-inch balls; place in a container with waxed paper separating each layer. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

FOR THE FILLING, combine walnuts and 3 ¾ cups sugar (the mixture will be dry). In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into nut mixture. Add extracts and a few drops of water if necessary until filling reaches a spreading consistency.

Place remaining sugar in a bowl; roll cream cheese balls in sugar until completely covered. Place a few balls at a time between two sheets of waxed paper. Roll balls into 2 1/2 inch circles. Gently spread about 2 teaspoons of filling over each. Roll up; place seam side down on ungreased baking sheets. Curve the ends slightly. Bake at 350 F. for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Yield:
about 8 dozen.

Country Woman

 


From Olga

 

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Last updated September 25, 2004