Coffee and Spice Cookies, A Vintage Recipe

My old Betty Crocker first edition cookbook from 1950 has some of the best recipes...this is one of them...hope  you enjoy them with your afternoon tea or evening  hot cocoa..I know we are..

Coffee and Spice Drops

Mix together thoroughly...........        1 c. soft shortening                                Temp. 400 degrees

                                                       2 c. brown sugar

                                                       2 eggs

Stir in............................................. 1/2 c. cold coffee

Sift together and stir in.....................3 1/2 c. flour

                                                       1 t. baking soda

                                                       1 t. salt

                                                       1 t. nutmeg

                                                       1.t. cinnamon

Chill at least 1 hour. Drop rounded teaspoonfuls about 2" apart on lightly greased cooky sheet. Bake until set..just until, when touched with finger, almost no imprint remains.   About 8 to 10 minutes . This makes about 6 dozen 2 1/2 inch cookies. I added a walnut half on top of each one..they would be good frosted also with a butter cream or maple frosting. These cookies are not real sweet...

This is a versatile cooky..with  a few additions, you can have classic Hermit Cookies...follow the recipe and to the dough add 2 1/2 c. raisins and 1 1/4 c. chopped nuts. Be careful not to over bake.

Or

Mincemeat cookies for the holidays....just add 2 cups well drained mincemeat to the dough.

Or

Spiced Prune Cookies...Follow the recipe and add 1/4 t. ground cloves with the other spices. Then mix into dough, 2 cups of cut up cooked prunes (well drained) and 1 cup chopped walnuts.

and lastly,

Applesauce cookies...follow recipe..add 1 t. cloves along with the other spices. Mix into the dough, 2 cups applesauce, 1 cup raisins and 1/2 c. chopped nuts..bake 9 -12 minutes.
These freeze well also..would be nice to tuck into the freezer and you'd have something if unexpected company came......

I found this old cookbook at an estate sale some time ago with the idea of selling it but have grown to love the old photos, and recipes so its a keeper.....plus a first edition is special......I found a photo on Etsy and snagged it so should share the link if anyone wants a copy...this one comes from Sallys Vintage Kitchen shop

its the same cookbook I have.....

Our weather has been on the cool side, 50s during the day and cold at night in the high 30s....lots of rain and wind...very foggy this morning...another storm is expected this evening and its predicted a doozy....heavy rain in the mountains and valleys...great for California though....hopefully no bad fire season this year.....