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Thimble Cookies


These old fashioned cookies have been around for a long time and for many years they were part of my Christmas cookie repertoire. I'm not sure if everyone now would even know what a thimble is, let alone have one, but for me it brings back memories of my grandmother who seemed to have one to fit every finger. Growing up, any patching that needed doing in our household, was brought to her, and she was able to make things to be like new with her needle and thimble. Me, well I'm happy to just happy to remember her when I use her thimbles to bake cookies.

Ingredients:
  • 1 cup butter
  • 2 eggs, separated 
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • chopped nuts, about 2 cups, any kind you like
  1. Cream butter. Beat in egg yolks, (reserving whites for coating) sugar and salt.
  2.  Add combined dry ingredients. If you are doing this by hand, I find I need to add an extra (whole) egg to the mix if it seems rather crumbly.
  3.  Shape into ball. Divide into quarters. Roll each piece into log and cut into 12 pieces.
  4. Shape into small balls and dip into slightly beaten egg white, then into chopped nuts. 
  5. Place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet. 
  6. Press a hole into the center of each ball, using a thimble. Repeat when half baked. 
  7. Bake at 350° F for about 12 - 14 min. 
  8. When baked, repeat the thimble press. Fill with jam or jelly. We like raspberry or apricot jam.

13 comments:

  1. Perfect cookie to add to the Christmas plate, Anneliese. I love these cookies and thanks for posting the recipe here.

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  2. Oh Anneliese....such memories of these delightful cookies. I loved these little two bite cookies, and with favorite homemade jelly or jam. These are a favorite cookie for Christmas and not everyone I know has had them so thanks for the post.

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  3. Beautiful! I will try these...and hope they look as nice as the picture.

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  4. Thimble cookies! I will always have naustalgic memories of these! They were the first cookie I learned to make when I started baking... and I have made countless ones in my lifetime.
    Yours look delicious !

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  5. Anneliese, again you have posted the most beautiful cookies. .and your photos are just so wonderful. I must give these pretty cookies a try.

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  6. I just love your site!! I am also a Mennonite Girl who can cook, and I'm always looking for new recipes. Will be back often.

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  7. I have been looking for these cookies for years. My grandma died before I thought to ask for the recipe. Thanks.

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  8. I would like to try these as we actually have all the ingredients here, except the nuts will be macadamia as we live in macadamia country....it is difficult to bake a lot of the recipes as we lack so much....I brought peanut butter, molasses and cocoa with me...customs must wonder what I am doing! Thank you for all your recipes. If you ever want to come to Guatemala and cook you are most welcome! Judy Bergen, Love Guatemala in Guatemala

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  9. Judy, I know what you mean by not having ingredietns... when we visited our daughter in Indonesia, we took a suitcase full of food and cooking ingredients she could not get there.
    It's also great to see how she learned to improvise. Wishing you all the best!

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  10. I rolled mine in very fine crushed corn flakes ( confession time...sometimes I BUY the boxed corn flake crumbs).

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    Replies
    1. Great idea when considering those who have nut allergies!

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