No, it’s not Christmastime. Yes, these cookies include nutmeg. No, I don’t really care that these are not seasonally appropriate. Because yes, they are one of the most amazing cookies you will ever eat.
Like, they are in my top five favorite cookies. If that was a real list, because I haven’t even thought about it except to include these. And these, maybe.
They are my aunt’s recipe, and they always remind me of her. At least, they will always remind me of her, when I make these every year from this point on in my life. It’s not like she’s dead or anything. I suppose that would increase the nostalgia. This recipe will only get more warm and fuzzy for me, I can feel it.
Slice.
Bake.
Frost.
Apply gold dust. I used freshly grated nutmeg for a change, and I was really pleased.
Please remember these for your to-do list next November. You will not be disappointed.
L
Nutmeg Logs
Adapted slightly from my auntie’s recipe
Makes about 5 dozen cookies
1 cup (2 sticks, 16 tablespoons) butter, softened
3/4 cup white sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons imitation rum extract (or rum???)
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg (or not fresh)
For the frosting:
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon imitation rum extract
2 cups powdered sugar
nutmeg for sprinkling
Cream together the butter and white sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer or with a hand mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg, vanilla and rum flavoring. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour and ground nutmeg, mixing until fully incorporated.
Shape the dough into long rolls about 1/2″ in diameter. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate while the oven preheats.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and slice the logs into 2″ slices and flatten slightly, so they look like logs. I had troubles with this because I am silly, so I shaped my cookies into tiny disks. You can really make them whatever shape you like.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until the cookies are set and you think you might possibly see a shade of brown at the edges. Let cool on a rack. Beat together the frosting ingredients and spread a little on each cookie, sprinkling each with nutmeg.
I don’t think the weather matters when a cookie looks this good!