Date-nut Kisses

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• canola oil cooking spray
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds
• 1 large egg , at room temperature
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch cream of tartar
• 1/4 teaspoon rum extract
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 3 tablespoons lightly-packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup chopped dates
• 1/2 cup raisins

Recipe

• 1 set 2 oven racks at top and bottom thirds of oven.
• 2 preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• 3 spray 2 non-stick baking sheets generously with oil spray.
• 4 in shallow pan over medium-high heat, toast almonds until lightly browned, about 15 minutes, stirring several times.
• 5 set aside.
• 6 in clean, dry bowl, beat egg with salt and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
• 7 add rum extract.
• 8 while beating, gradually sprinkle in granulated sugar.
• 9 beat in dark brown sugar 1 tablespoon at a time.
• 10 fold in dates, raisins and almonds.
• 11 drop mixture by teaspoon onto baking sheets 3 inches apart, to make 25 cookies.
• 12 stagger pans on separate racks so lower pan is not directly below top pan.
• 13 bake cookies 10 minutes.
• 14 switch pans to opposite racks.
• 15 bake 10 minutes more or until cookies are light brown, firm and feel dry to the touch.
• 16 turn off oven.
• 17 let cookies sit in oven 20 minutes.
• 18 remove from oven and cool completely on baking sheets.
• 19 using metal spatula, gently remove cookies from sheets.
• 20 if not served immediately, store in airtight container, with wax paper between layers, up to 3 days.
• 21 these are crisp on the outside and slightly chewy inside on the first day, they later become chewy throughout.