Recipe(tried): Ruth's Rugelach and Torticas de Moron - Here are the 2 Recipes for You Claudette

Dear Claudette,

Here are the two cookie recipes for you to try out. They are quite good. I always make the rugelach to give as gifts at Christmas time to friends and neighbors. Ruth was an elderly neighbor of mine when I lived in Davie, Florida who graciously shared her recipe with me because they were so good!

RUTH'S RUGELACH
Makes 32 delicious cookies. These freeze well also.

1/2 lb. unsalted butter, softened
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar for topping
FOR THE FILLING:
Stir together:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup seedless raisins
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup finely chopped walnuts.

Cream butter and cream cheese. Beat in flour little by little. Knead dough til all flour is incorporated. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 1 hour.

Divide dough into two balls. Wrap up 1 ball and refrigerate and roll out the other ball into a circle about 1/16 thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 16 pie shaped wedges. Sprinkle filling onto the top and roll up each wedge starting at wide end.

Sprinkle with sugar and bake on cookie sheet for 15-18 minutes at 375 degrees F.

Step-by-step photos showing how to shape Rugelach (click here).

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The cookie, called "Mantecado" (pronounced by some as mantecao) or Torticas de Moron is actually a Cuban cookie. Mantecado means ice-cream in Spanish, the cookie is called this because it melts in your mouth. They are similar to a Pecan Sandie. When I was a child, my Mom kept these cookies in a big glass jar so that my sister and I could enjoy one or two with a glass of ice-cold milk when we came home from school.

Here is a little bit of history on these yummy cookies:

Moron is a town in the province of Camaguey, Cuba. The town is famous for the origin of the cookies. Many bakers who fled Castro's oppression in the early 60's brought their recipe for the cookie to the mainland and today the cookies can be found in Cuban bakeries in Tampa and Miami. Sometimes they are sprinkled liberally with sugar on top or with colorful sprinkles.

Here is a recipe for you to make at home.

Enjoy!! Gina

TORTICAS DE MORON
makes about 48 cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup shortening
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. grated lime peel
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder

In a large bowl, cream the sugar and shortening using a wooden spoon. Gradually add the remaining ingredients blending with your clean hands. Form the dough into a roll about 2 inches in diameter and wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

With a sharp knife cut the dough into 1/4 inch slices and place them on a non-stick or lightly buttered cookie sheet. With your finger make an indentation in the center of the cookie.

Bake them until lightly browned, 20-25 minutes. Store in a glass jar or tightly lidded tin. The cookies will keep for one week.