Raisin Cookies are a staple of American vintage baking. Popular in the early to mid-20th century, they were frequently featured in community cookbooks and often made for family gatherings, holidays, or simple weeknight treats. Their charm lies in their hearty, lightly spiced dough, sweet raisin filling, and chewy texture. The inclusion of sour milk (or buttermilk) and spices reflects common Depression-era ingredients used for both flavor and leavening.
Ingredients
For Filling:
- 1 cups raisins (heaped)
- 1 cup water
- ¾ cup sugar
- 3 tbsp lemon juice (optional, Juice of 1 lemon)
- Cornstarch (to thicken)
For Cookies:
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 cup lard
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup sour milk
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 4+ cups all-purpose flour
- cinnamon (allspice, clove)
Optional
- cinnamon, clove
Instructions
Step 1: Make the Filling
- Grind raisins in a meat grinder or food processor.
- Combine raisins, 1 cup water, and ¾ cup sugar in a saucepan.
- Bring to a simmer and stir until sugar is dissolved.
- Add lemon juice (optional).
- Thicken the mixture with cornstarch or flour. Let cool.
Step 2: Prepare Cookie Dough
- In a bowl, beat 2 eggs.
- Add brown and white sugar, and mix until creamy.
- Add lard, salt, and vanilla extract.
- Stir in sour milk.
- Dissolve baking soda in a spoonful of hot water and add.
- Sift baking powder with flour and slowly incorporate.
- Add spices if using. Mix until dough forms.
Step 3: Assemble Cookies
- Roll out dough and cut into rounds.
- Place a teaspoon of raisin filling on half the cookies.
- Top with another round and seal edges.
- Place on greased baking sheet.
Step 4: Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake for 12–15 minutes until lightly golden.
Tips
- Substitute lard with butter or shortening if preferred.
- For added texture, mix chopped walnuts into the filling.
- Skip the filling and enjoy the dough as spice cookies.
- To keep cookies soft, store in an airtight container with a slice of bread.
Nutrition
Calories: 194kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gTrans Fat: 0.001gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 459mgPotassium: 105mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 106IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 1mg
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