Muzurkas

Title: Muzurkas

Categories: Cookies

Yield: 36 servings

1 c Butter or margarine

1 c Sugar

3 Eggs

1 1/2 c All-purpose flour

1 ds Salt

1/4 c Almonds; ground or fine chop

1 tb Orange peel; fine chop (opt)

2 tb Sugar

2 tb Cornstarch

1 1/2 c Orange juice or water

3/4 c Dried apricots; snipped

3/4 c Dried figs or dates; snipped

1/2 c Raisins or currants

1/2 c Walnuts or almonds; chopped

1/4 c Candied orange or lemon peel

Chopped Powdered sugar icing

Beat butter or margarine in a large mixing bowl with an electric

mixer till softened. Add the 1 cup sugar and beat till fluffy. Add eggs;

beat well. Add flour and salt. Beat till just combined. Stir in ground

or finely chopped almonds and finely shredded orange peel, if desired.

Spread dough evenly in a greased 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Bake in a

15 to 20 minutes or till toothpick inserted near the

center comes out clean.

Meanwhile, for filling, combine the 2 tbsp. sugar and cornstarch in

a medium saucepan. Stir in orange juice or water, apricots, figs or dates,

and raisins or currants. Cook and stir over medium heat till thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in chopped walnuts or almonds and candied

peel. Spread over the hot cookie. Bake 20 minutes or till filling appear

set.

Cool in the pan on a wire rack. Cut into squares. Drizzle with

Powdered Sugar Icing. Makes 36 bars.

Source: BH&G Christmas Cookies.

1 cup sifted powdered sugar,

tbsp. milk, and 1/4 tsp. vanilla in a small bowl. Stir in additional

milk, 1 tsp at a time, to make an icing of drizzling consistency. --