Pinwheel Cookies

It's been many years since I baked these pinwheel cookies.  I always make so much fudge and toffee to give away that I've somehow stopped baking some of my traditional family favorites.  The moment I sunk my teeth into this cookie, the memories became so clear.  It's funny how tastes and smells can take you to a different place and time.  My mom always made these cookies each and every Christmas.  I think she made them mostly for my oldest brother (I have three) but I loved them too!  Well brother John, if we didn't live 1,500 miles away from each other I would be inclined to share a few with you!

These are so pretty and very tasty cookies.  I hope they become one of your family favorites too.

Ingredients
Chocolate filling:

• 1 cup ground pecans or shredded coconut
• 2 tablespoons cocoa
• ¼ cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons Pet milk
• Dough:
• 1½ cups cake flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup soft shortening
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 egg yolk
• 2 tablespoons Pet milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

1. Mix together the chopped pecan, cocoa and ¼ cup sugar. Blend in 3 tablespoons Pet milk. Set aside while preparing the dough.
2. Sift cake flour before measuring. Resift 1½ cups cake flour with ½ teaspoon salt. Set aside. Cream together the shortening and ½ cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in 1 egg yolk. Add the flour mixture alternately with a mixture of 2 tablespoons pet milk and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Begin and end with the flour mixture. Mix until smooth after each addition. Turn out dough on a lightly floured piece of wax paper. Roll into a rectangular sheet 8x10 inches. Spread with the chocolate nut mixture leaving a one inch margin on each 10-inch side. With the aid of the wax paper, roll up like a jelly roll. Wrap in the wax paper and freeze until firm.
3. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut the dough into ⅛ inch slices. Place the cookies on a Silpat Mat or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for about 8 minutes or until the bottom is lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container. Yield: 4 dozen cookies.

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