Latest experiment - people at church adore my shortbread cookies, so I always try different variations. okay's ended up even more of a variation than normal, and the interesting part was the dates I chopped and added turned crunchy when baked - I expected them to be chewy, but they were crunchy! Who knew?

Date Spice Sweet Shortbread:

Cream together
1 cup butter (2 sticks, softened at room temperature is easiest)

Add:
1 cup confectioner's sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix all that together, then add:

2 cups flour

and then

2/3 cup chopped dates

Pat dough together if necessary (depends what temperature your butter was at when you started) then roll out to about 1/4" inch thick, cut into shapes (I just used a round cutter, with the dates in it, you need something with a sharp edge). Cutting into squares with a knife also works fine - keep the shapes small, as the cookies are rich and delicate.

Place on an ungreased cookies sheets

Bake for 20 minutes at 350° F - let cool or remove with a spatula - they are fragile when first out of the oven.

Then enjoy!