Date Filled Oatmeal Cookies
By: dad1337
Published: Monday, February 2, 2015 - 11:34am

Ingredients




For the Filling:
8 oz Dates ( cut into small pieces)
1 cup raisins
3/4 cup granulated sugar
Juice of 1 lemon + (zest of lemon optional)
1 - 2 cups water
2 tsp corn starch
For the Oatmeal Cookies:
2½ cups all purpose flour
2 cup Oatmeal ( not instant)
1 cup shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
1 cup buttermilk
Additional flour to work the dough if necessary

Preparation

1 For the Filling: 2 In a small sauce pan place the dates, raisins,sugar, lemon juice and add enough water to cover the mixture. 3 Place on high heat and bring to a rapid boil and boil for about 15 minutes, continuously stirring to prevent the mixture from burning until the dates begin to break down and the liquid reduces and a thick sauce is made. 4 Remove from the heat and add the 2 tsp of corn starch mixed with 2 tsp of water into the filling and stir to combine and thicken. 5 Place the filling into a container with lid and refrigerate a few hours to overnight. 6 For the Oatmeal Cookies and Assembly: 7 In a bowl combine the flour,oatmeal, salt, cinnamon and the baking powder. 8 In a mixer cream the sugar and the shortening.  Slowly add the dry ingredients, once combined add the buttermilk and mix until a dough forms. 9 Place the dough onto a well floured table and knead until a smooth not too sticky dough is formed ( you  may have to add more flour). 10 Form the dough into a ball and place into a bowl and cover and let sit in the refrigerator 1 hour to overnight. 11 To Assemble: 12 Cut the dough into ¼'s, and roll the dough out to 1/4 to 1/8 inch thickness.  Using a circular cookie cutter 2½ to 2¾ inches in diameter cut out circles, you will need two for every cookie. 13 Place half the circles on a greased sheet pan or a silpat covered pan.  Spoon about 1 Tbs of the cooled filling into the center and cover with a second circle.  Crimp the edges and cut a small vent hole in the top of the cookie. 14 Bake in the center of a 350º oven for approximately 20 minutes.  Carefully place on a wire rack to cool.  Store in an air tight container. 15 As an alternative you can bake the cookies in a single layer for about 12- 15 minutes until lightly browned, cool, then spread the filling over one and top with another like an Oreo.