Date Pinwheels

Date Pinwheels Recipe

• 3/4 pound pitted dates, chopped
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Cook dates, granulated sugar and water in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat and cool.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, beat brown sugar, shortening, butter, egg and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth.
3. In a small bowl, soft together the flour and salt.
4. Beat in as much of the flour and salt as possible with the mixer and stir in any remaining flour mixture using a wooden spoon.
5. Divide dough into halves and on top of a sheet of waxed paper, roll each half into a 11x7-inch rectangle.
6. Spread half the date filling on each rectangle to within 1/2-inch of the edge.
7. Tightly roll each beginning with the longer, 11-inch side.
8. Seal each log by pinching edges of dough together.
9. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
10. When you're ready to bake the cookies, preheat oven to 400F degrees.
11. Cut rolls into 1/4-inch thick slices and place slices onto ungreased baking sheets about 2 inches apart.
12. Bake about 10 minutes, until lightly golden.
13. Immediately transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

This recipe yields about 5 dozen Date Pinwheels.