Yes, You Can: Dairy-Free Christmas Cookie #4: Chinese Chews

Once upon a time, Gramma was taking a pan of Little Suzy's favorite Date Nut Bars out of the oven when one of the farm trucks backfired right outside her kitchen window. Gramma was so startled that she dropped the hot pan which landed upside down on the floor.

After scooping everything back into the pan, she set it on the counter and immediately wiped up the sugary mess from the floor. Gramma couldn't bear a dirty floor and was proud that her linoleum was always squeaky clean.

Then she looked at the remains of Little Suzy's cookies, sitting there all broken and sticky in the pan. It seemed a shame to waste all those dates and nuts and eggs. Then her eyes fell on the cup of powdered sugar she had ready to sprinkle on top of the bars. Why not?

After supper that evening, Gramma passed the plate of pretty little powdered sugar-covered balls. "Yummy, Gramma, these are good!" said Little Suzy, with powdered sugar on her nose. "Yeah, " said Grandpa. "You haven't made these before. What are they called?"

Gramma hadn't thought of that, so she said the first thing that came to her mind. And the Chinese Chews were born.

True story? Gramma's not telling. But you'll like this Christmas Cookie recipe and yes, it always has been dairy-free.
Recipe: Chinese Chews

1 c. raw sugar
3/4 c. whole wheat or spelt flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt.
2 eggs, slightly beaten (or 4 egg whites)
1 Tbs. lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
1 c. dates, chopped
1/2 c. dried cranberries
1 c. pecans or walnuts, broken
2 tsp. vanilla
(Powdered sugar for coating)

Mix the whole mess together, except the powdered sugar. Spread in a greased 9" x 13" pan.

Bake 25 minutes at 325 degrees. A toothpick should test clean when done. Cookie should be set but not browned.
Cool 5 - 10 minutes in pan, until comfortable to handle.

Scoop out heaping teaspoonfuls and roll into balls, then roll while warm in powdered sugar.
Let cool completely.

This is a good cookie to make with children, especially rolling the warm gooey cookie balls in the sugar. Just expect powdered sugar from ceiling to floor.

I added the dried cranberries (Craisins) to the traditional cookie, which seemed cloyingly sweet to me. Chopped dried cherries would be even better, but I don't have any on hand and it's a long way down the hill to the store. The cranberries work nicely, but let me know if you bake up a batch with the cherries.

Dairy-Free Christmas Cookies ready to pass out to the neighborhood - Yes, you really can!