Food Friday: Mexican Christmas Cookies

Mexican Christmas Cookies (Galletas de Navidad)

Ingredients

• 1½ cups butter, at room temperature
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 3 cups flour
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• 4 eggs, separated
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 lime, juiced
• 2½ cups fruit preserves
• ½ cup Gran Marnier
• ½ cup icing sugar
• ¾ cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

1. Mix the butter and sugar until well blended. Add the egg yolks and vanilla and mix well. Add the flour and mix to form a large ball.
2. Knead the dough 4 to 5 minutes. Dust with flour, cover with plastic and refrigerate between 30 minutes and 1 hour.
3. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Grease two cookie sheets.
4. Beat the egg whites until stiff. Lower mixer speed and gradually add ¾ cup sugar and the lime juice. Beat for 1 minute, until the mixture is shiny.
5. On a large, floured surface roll out the dough. Transfer it to the greased cookie sheets and continue to roll out until very thin.
6. Combine the preserves and the Grand Marnier and spread over the dough. Cover this with the beaten egg white mixture and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and chopped walnuts.
7. Bake for 45-60 minutes or until egg whites are golden brown and crispy. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cut into squares to serve. Makes about 2½ dozen.