Nana's Penitentiary Cookies

(Also called Mexican Wedding Cookies)
My Nana used to bake hundreds of these cookies at Christmas and gave them as gifts to family and friends. According to my Dad, she also made them up for her monthly visits to the state penitentiary when she visited my Uncle.

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup butter, at room temperature (1 stick)

  • ½ cup shortening

  • 2 cups confectioner's sugar, divided

  • 1 ¼ tsp vanilla extract

  • ¼ tsp almond extract

  • 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

  • ¼ tsp salt

  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans

Preparation:

  1. Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter, shortening and 1 cup of the confectioner's sugar in a large bowl. Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.

  2. Gradually add the flour and salt. Use the mixer for the first cup of flour, and then work in the remaining cup of flour and the finely chopped pecans by hand with a wooden spoon. Dough will be stiff.

  3. Form dough into balls (1 level tablespoon each). Place on an ungreased baking sheet, 1 inch apart. Bake at 325°F on middle oven rack until light golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

  4. While cookies are still warm, place the remaining cup of confectioner's sugar in a shallow dish. Roll the cookies in sugar to coat completely.


    Makes about 3 dozen cookies.