Recipe: Czechoslovakian Perniky (cookies)

CZECHOSLOVAKIAN PERNIKY

1/2 pound honey
1 cup sugar
1 egg
3 to 5 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoon margarine, room temperature
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground mace
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 ounces candied citron
3 ounces candied lemon peel
3 ounces candied orange peel
Grated rind of 1 lemon
Grated rind of 1 orange
Lightly beaten egg white to coat cookies
Blanched almonds for garnish

In large bowl, combine honey, sugar, egg, milk and margarine.

In another bowl, combine flour with cinnamon, mace, allspice, cloves, nutmeg and baking soda. Add to honey mixture, then mix in citron, candied lemon and orange peel and grated lemon and orange rind. Beat well. Refrigerate overnight.

When ready to bake, return to room temperature. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Roll out dough to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut out forms with cookie cutter. Brush tops with lightly beaten egg white. Place half a blanched almond in center of each cookie. Set on buttered baking sheets.

Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, 10 to 13 minutes. Cool on cookie sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes about 3 dozen
Source: Our Favorite Recipes by the Fort Bend County Czech Heritage Society in Rosenberg, Texas