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I remember having and making these cookies from my childhood. For some reason we made them during the holidays. I think they are good anytime. But you know already I love cookies. Originally, this cookie recipe came from Michigan, from a Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth. I think the popularity was more in Pennsylvania in the coal region in the 1930’s. The cookies are called ‘rocks’ because of all of the rocks in the lakes. The rocks especially in Lake Superior are spectacular. Anyway, the warm spices and fruit are wonderful in the cookies.
Michigan Rocks Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup Brown Sugar
- ¼ cup Sugar
- 1 cup Butter, room temperature
- 3 Eggs
- 3 cups Flour
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- ¼ tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- Dash Nutmeg
- 1 cup Walnuts, toasted and chopped
- 1 cup Golden Raisins, whole or chopped
- Or 1 cup Dried Cherries, chopped
- 1 cup Dates, chopped
- 1 tsp Vanilla
Directions
- Preheat oven 350 degrees
- In a bowl add the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- In a mixing bowl cream the butter. Add in the sugars and mix until fluffy. Add in one egg at a time and mix until just combined. Add in the vanilla, dates, cherries and walnuts and mix until combined.
- With the mixer on low, slowly add in the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Drop by tablespoons on a lined parchment lined cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly brown around the edges. The cookies won’t spread very much and will be slightly dense, resembling ‘rocks’.
- These cookies are great with a cup of coffee.
Enjoy … gathering around the table with family and friends
