Yes, Mennonite girls can make New Year’s Cookies
This tasty donut like treat is a bit of a project to make, but well worth the time and effort.
This recipe is not on the top of my healthy foods list, but is a family favorite that comes around only once a year.
There’s something about tradition that speaks it’s own language.
New Year’s Cookies
(AKA fritters or Portselkje)
- Dissolve 1 tsp. sugar in 1/2 cup warm water. Sprinkle 1 pkg. dry yeast (.25 ounce) on water and let stand for 10 minutes.
- Add 3 cups warm water
- 3 cups milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 Tbsp butter melted
- 4 eggs beaten
- 2 cups raisins or more
- Stir in enough flour to make a fairly thick batter. Let rise until double in bulk. (I use light Rye flour)
- Drop by spoonfuls into hot oil. The batter will sink to the bottom and rise to the top.
- Flip once
- When golden brown scoop the cookies out of the hot oil and place onto a paper towel or drip tray.
- Roll in icing sugar if desired.
The key is to have the oil hot enough so that it does not soak into the batter. (about 375F or 190C)
A couple of years ago, our son made New Year’s Cookies for a New Year’s Eve party.
Being innovative, he stuck a chocolate square into the centre of each cookie.
Needless to say, the cookies were a big hit.