Auntie Mae's Christmas (and Solstice, Too) Cookies

Being an Instructable on the topic of baking, in which the secret holiday cookie recipe created by RavingWife's distant ancestor "Auntie Mae" is divulged for the whole internet to see. And there was much rejoicing.

Seriously, this is the best cookie ever. Make some.

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup (aka 2 sticks or 1/2 pound) unsalted butter
3 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda (not baking powder)
1 cup crushed pineapple - drained
1 cup maraschino cherries - drained and chopped
1/2 cup green candied cherries
1 cup nuts - slivered almonds work very well
1/2 cup amarretto liqueur (optional)
1 cup raisins, figs, or other dried fruit (optional)

NOTE: This is a very forgiving recipe. Feel free to adjust amounts and ingredients to suit your own tastes. More or fewer cherries, different nuts, another kind of liquor - go crazy. It'll turn out fine.

 

In a large bowl, cream together the sugar, butter and eggs with an electric mixer. Add the flour and baking soda and mix well until a stiff batter forms. Add the amaretto too, if you're using it.** If the batter is too stiff, add some of the reserved pineapple or cherry juice (or more amaretto). If the batter is too runny, mix in a little more flour.
Fold in the remaining ingredients until well combined.

** By all accounts, Auntie Mae was a very sweet and proper little old lady who is probably spinning in her grave like a Buttered Cat Array at the thought of liquor being used in her cookie recipe. All I can tell you is that it is a very tasty addition, and the vengeful shade of Auntie Mae has yet to show up at House Raving to exact her gruesome revenge. YMMV. You have been warned.