Lemon Pecan Ice Box Cookies

A cookie recipe very similar to this one was written on a card in my grandmother's recipe file from the 1930's: Lemon Pecan Ice Box Cookies.  The recipe appears in my mother's files from the 50's and the title is Lemon Pecan Refrigerator Cookies. The recipe kept up with the times and it is as popular in my home today as it was when my grandmother made it many years ago.  This is a great lunch box cookie (do kids take their lunch to school any more?) and holds up well in a back pack or gym bag if you like to take a snack with you on outings.

 

Lemon Pecan Refrigerator Cookies

• 2/3 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon lemon peel, finely grated
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 cups AP flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup pecans, finely chopped

 Thoroughly cream butter and sugar; add egg, lemon peel and lemon juice.  Beat well.  Sift together dry ingredients; add to the creamed mixture; mix well, stir in 1/4 cup of the finely chopped nuts.

Shape dough into rolls 2 inches across.  Roll in remaining chopped nuts.  Wrap rolls in waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill well, several hours or overnight.  Slice dough into 1/4 inch slices and bake on parchment lined cookie sheets at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until slightly browned.  Makes 5 dozen cookies.

The rolls of dough keep in the refrigerator for up to a week and they freeze beautifully.  I double the recipe and always have this cookie on hand for a quick dessert. 

 

This isn't a fancy cookie but the flavor is rich and wonderful.  If you don't have pecans try walnuts or hazelnuts instead.  Ice box cookies used to be so popular.  Do you have an old recipe that's a family favorite?  Let's make those "oldies but goodies" popular again...what do you say?