Ice Box Cookies

I made a lot of cookies growing up.  My dad often mentioned Ice Box Cookies, but for some reason, I don’t remember ever making them.  I suppose I thought they must be difficult to make since they were something my grandmother made.  I knew she was a good cook, so I must have assumed they would be too difficult for me if she made them a lot.  So, when I decided to try Ice Box Cookies, I was pleasantly surprised to find they were simple to make and tasted as good as my dad had described. I found the recipe for Ice Box Cookies in my mom’s recipe box.  I could tell that it was one of the recipes she had copied down, probably as my grandmother quoted the ingredients from memory.  There was not a lot of detail in the instructions (as has been the case in many of these recipes).

Ice Box Cookies Recipe

Ice Box Cookies

• 1 cup shortening
• 2 cups brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon soda
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup nut meats

Form in rolls.  Place in ice-box for 24 hours.  Slice thin, and bake in 400 degree oven on greased tin. I creamed the shortening and brown sugar, then added the eggs and mixed well.  I then added the dry ingredients.

Ice Box Cookie Dough

My dad said his mom always made them without the nuts because he didn’t like nuts.  So, I decided to make them this way. (Although, I think the nuts would be a nice addition.)  I also made a half recipe because as my sister said, “With all these dessert recipes we are trying, we’re going to have to go on a family wide, major exercise plan!”  I formed the dough into a roll.  I asked my dad about how big around it should be and he held up his hands to show me a size of about 3 inches in diameter.  It was quite soft when I wrapped it in saran wrap and put it in the refrigerator.  However, when the 24 hours were up, I found the dough was very firm and sliced easily with a sharp knife. The recipe said 400 degrees, but didn’t indicate a time.  For the first tray, I tried five minutes, but found that they were too brown.  I turned the heat down to 375 degrees and at that temperature I found that five to seven minutes was just right for these thin and tasty cookies.

Ice Box Cookies

I also found a recipe in the box for peanut butter ice box cookies.  I haven’t tried these yet, but thought I’d share the recipe in case you are a peanut butter lover.  It doesn’t have any directions, just a list of ingredients.  But, I’m sure you can make them the same way you would make the other recipe.

Mrs. Van’s Peanut Butter Ice Box Cookies

• 1/4 cup shortening
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

I like ice box cookies because you can make up the dough one day, put them in the refrigerator, and then take them out the next day and bake.  It was a very simple recipe and everyone in the family liked them.  I hope your family enjoys them as well.

Happy Baking!

Amy