Moravian Sand Tarts

Date: 2009.12.19 | Category: Baking | Tags: cookies,holiday

Have your elves been in the cookie jar too much this week?  Are you realizing you need a last minute bake before the weekend?  If so, sand tarts are the perfect cookie to make.  Simple in preparation but not in flavor, they look pretty and festive on your cookie plate.

This recipe comes from Nany as well as my Pennsylvania Dutch cookbook.  Moravian Sand Tarts have been made in hundreds of families for many, many generations in PA.  Why don’t you add it to your collection of recipes in your family?

Ingredients:

2 c. butter (what recipe isn’t good that starts with this much butter???)
2 1/2 c. powdered sugar
3 eggs
4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
chopped pecans
red & green decorative sugar
egg white

Preheat oven to 350.  Cream together butter and sugar.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Beat very well after each addition.  Sift together flour, and baking soda in separate bowl then stir into butter mixture.  Refrigerate until dough is stiff.  About an hour.  Roll out dough until it is very thin on a floured surface.  Yes get out your rolling pin!  You can do this.  Cut into shapes (this is the fun part) with your assortment of Christmas cookie cutters.  Sprinkle with pecans on some and the decorative sugar on others.  Brush each cookie with some egg white.  Bake for 10 minutes.

These cookies remain fresh for over a week if sealed in a container.  Plus the recipe makes a lot so your elves should be happily satisfied.

xo–me