Food and Friendship

Santa Barbara

jewish grandmother cookies

by

Some years ago I read a book that affected me profoundly.  It was called Ladder of Years, by my favorite author, Anne Tyler.  The plot spoke to me at the time, a story about a woman coming to terms with her children’s growing up and growing away.  But woven into the narrative, the author casually mentioned a dish called Jewish Grandmother Cookies as something that gave her comfort.  I was intrigued and wrote to Ms. Tyler, telling her my reaction to the book but also inquiring about those cookies!

To my surprise she answered with a very charming note.  We’ve corresponded a few times since, and although her memories of those cookies had to do with a neighbor she had in Baltimore years ago, I thought of it when I came across my own Jewish grandmother cookie recipe and thought I’d share it with you here.


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Jewish Grandmother Sprinkle Cookies
Author: 
Serves: 16 - 20 cookies
 
These are the simplest of cookies, easy to make and just right for a little bite, a nosh! They're similar to Italian wedding cookies but these are not as sweet, more like a shortbread. They do have those lovely sprinkles, and who doesn't love those? I fell in love with them as a little girl, and even when I went off to college, every now and then my grandmother would send me a shoe box full of these, wrapped carefully in layers of wax paper. How happy they made me ... and still do. (Warning: they seem small and harmless but they disappear quickly!)
Ingredients
  • 2 large eggs (if you use extra-large the dough will be sticky)
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • rainbow sprinkles
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. [For the next three steps you can try using an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, but when I did, the dough came out very gummy]
  4. In a small bowl, mix eggs, sugar, vanilla, and oil until well-combined.
  5. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt.
  6. Pour liquid in small bowl into flour mixture in large bowl and combine until a batter forms.
  7. Put about ½ cup sprinkles into a small bowl or ramekin.
  8. Using a small ice cream scoop (I use 1.75 inch), drop cookie batter onto your baking sheet.
  9. One by one, dip each cookie into the sprinkles on one side.
  10. Bake for 20-30 minutes -- don't let them get brown.
  11. Cool on baking sheet for 10 minutes, then put onto wire rack to cool completely.

Grandma Bessie in 1961.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

  3. I love this post!! I still remember your grandmother and what a wonderful baker she was!! I know she left wonderful memories for you to share!!! I can’t wait to try these rainbow cookies!! 🌈

  4. Aww I remember these cookies! But I didn’t remember they were Granny’s. I remember Grandma’s (her daughter, your mom) and those Wheatina cookies that only she and I would eat. xoxoxo

    • Yes, those Wheatinas were your Grandma’s “healthy” cookies. Granny just made the fun ones like these sprinkle delights 🙂