Saturday, January 30, 2010

Grandpa Burnson's Berry Butternuts

This is David Burnson , Sr in his younger years. He created the berry butternut recipe that has become a well-loved and tasty family Christmas tradition. Now his son and daughters also make this for their Christmases too. To fully do this delicious cookie justice real butter and raspberry jam are a must! However the lactose intolerant in the family may substitute a dairy free margarine. You will need:
  • 1 lb. of butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 tsp.salt
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 4 to 5 cups flour
  • 2 cups finely chopped walnuts
  • raspberry jam

Cream together butter, sugar, and salt. Mix in egg and vanilla. Add 4 cups of flour, mixing in one cup at a time, then add as much of the 5th cup until the dough can be rolled into a ball without sticking.


Take a small fist sized ball of dough and roll it into a 1 inch thick log and then roll that into the chopped walnuts coating the dough. It should be about 3/4 inch thick now.



Cut into 3/4 inch pieces and place onto a baking sheet 1 inch apart.


Using the unsharpend end of a pencil, make an indentation in the center of the cookie about 1/2 inch deep and fill with jam.



Bake the cookies in a 325 degree oven for 12 to 15 minutes.



After cooling the cookies , store them in airtight containers. Just like short breads the taste of these cookies improves after a couple of days. Enjoy !

4 comments:

  1. I've never seen that great photo of Grandpa! I'm going to have to start making these myself - maybe do something crazy and make them in the middle of the summer. =) It sure is fitting that the first 4 posts on the family recipe blog is desserts!

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  2. Oh no, Berry Butternuts in the summer...go ahead and break with tradition, we'll all enjoy them with iced tea as we sit in the shade and wonder why we never considered baking and eating them in the summer before!

    That IS a great picture of Grandpa , isn't it? He was quite dashing, I think!

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  3. I love that picture of my dad. Sorry I am not able to post much right now I am overwhelmed with babysitting and house cleaning. Should be back in a week or two.

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  4. I love the idea of forming a log for these cookies, Kathy, and then slicing them.

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