Cherry Bell Cookies

My mother, who was an avid collector of cookie recipes, always baked this cookie for Christmas. It is one of the many had in her special recipe book, which held only her favorite recipes.

• Calories: 214 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups chopped walnuts
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ¼ cups packed brown sugar
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ⅓ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon cream
• ½ teaspoon instant coffee granules
• ¼ cup dark corn syrup
• 3 tablespoons cherry juice
• 60 maraschino cherries, halved

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Sift together: 3 cups flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ginger and 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee. Put aside.

Step 2

Cream 1 cup butter or margarine. Add 1 1/4 cups brown sugar. Cream well. Blend in dark corn syrup, egg, and cream. Add dry ingredients and mix well.

Step 3

Roll out dough, 1/3 at a time on floured board to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut cookies into 2 1/2 inch rounds. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Step 4

To Make Filling: Combine 1/3 firmly packed brown sugar, 1 tablespoon butter, 3 tablespoons cherry juice. Stir in 1 1/2 cups chopped nuts, chopped fine.

Step 5

Place 1/2 teaspoon filling in center of each round. Shape into a bell by folding sides of dough to meet over the filling using spatula to fold over sides. Make top of bell narrower than at the clapper end. Place 1/2 of a maraschino cherry (cut side down) at open end of each bell for clapper. Bake at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes.