Cran-Cashew-Almond-Raisin cookies

This is another item that our friends requested recipe for! My mom, my husband and myself tried our hands with this one! It's pretty easy to make and can be used with a variety of nuts and dry fruits. This can also be made in bulk and stored for about 2 weeks in air tight containers (provided they are not gone....;)

Ingredients:

Yields 60 cookies.

• 2 cups soft butter (microwave the butter in a ceramic bowl for 30 seconds to 1 min to soften the butter)
• 6 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup turbinado sugar
• 2.5 cups regular sugar or organic sugar
• 6 tablespoons grounded almonds
• 1/2 cup cranberry
• 1/2 cup raisin
• 1/2 cup cashews
• Few drops of vanilla or almond essence (without alcohol- available in Trader Joe's)

Method:

• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Combine all ingredients and thoroughly mix them and make it into a dough.
• Roll the dough into small balls and press them flat onto a baking pan with an ungreased cookie sheet. (Alternately, can also use just the baking pan but remember to grease it with butter or oil).
• Bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden around the edges of the cookie.
• Allow them to cool outside before removing them from the cookie sheet.
• Offer the cookies and serve!

Tip: Since the cookies will flatten out further while they are baking, it's better to leave out 1/2" space between them on the cookie sheet.

Please let me know your comments once you have tried them!!