Cuban Christmas Cookies

Whilst at the WWDP Residential last month, we agreed that we should put an easy recipe in the Children’s activity materials. I found this recipe on the internet, and tweaked it a little. I made up a batch of the cookies this week, and they have been pronounced very good by Bob. OK, I know the Day of Prayer is in March- but they are simple to make, and fun to look at. Here’s the recipe for you now though , so you can make them as part of the festive season.

Torticas de Navidad- Cuban Christmas Cookies from Havana
INGREDIENTS [makes 36 cookies]

1 cup butter
1¼ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 cups corn flakes lightly crushed into small pieces, NOT crumbs
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup raisins or sultanas
1 cup of glace cherries

Preheat oven to 190°C/Gas 5, line a baking sheet with parchment.

• Cut 12 of the cherries in half, and chop the remainder.
• Cream the butter and sugar together in a small bowl [with wooden spoon or with electric mixer].
• Gradually add the eggs and vanilla.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder and bicarb.
• Add these dry ingredients to the creamed sugar and mix well.
• Gently fold in the nuts, raisins, and chopped cherries.
• Take a teaspoon of dough and roll it in the corn flakes.
• Place the cookies on a baking sheet
• Put a cherry half in the centre of each cookie.
• Bake for 14 minutes, cool on a rack

No, I have not the faintest notion why they are [a] Cuban or [b] Christmassy. But they do taste very good!