Divinity Cookies

Makes 2 Dozen Cookies

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 egg white
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Beat butter and shortening together until combined, then stir in powdered sugar and beat until creamy, about 2 minutes. Stir in egg white and vanilla and beat well. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, cream of tartar and baking soda. Slowly add to creamy mixture, mixing well until soft dough is formed. Stir in nuts. Roll dough into 1 1/2" balls and place on parchment paper lined baking sheet. Dip a the back of a spoon in water and then powdered sugar and flatten dough balls slightly. Bake for 11-13 minutes until slightly browned on the edges. Cool 10 minutes on the pan then move to wire rack to finish cooling. Sprinkle with additional powdered sugar if desired.




   When I was a little girl, my mom frequently made shopping trips to Publix supermarket, a store we kids loved because we could get a free cookie (up until age 12). Back in my day, you could pick ANY cookie from the bakery display cabinet. Nowadays, when I'm the one shopping at Publix with my own kiddos, they have a specific small case with cookies available to choose from for free for the kids--usually either a sugar cookie with sprinkles or chocolate chip. Sprinkles are my three year old's first choice, but my six year old and eleven year old go for the chocolate chip every time! 
   
   But, as I was saying, back in my day (a LONG time ago!) we could choose whatever kind we wanted. I remember my two favorite constant choices were Iced Oatmeal and Divinity. NEITHER of which are available anymore, not even for purchase! Such a shame! Divinity Cookies were these big, thick pillows of buttery, crumbly, nutty goodness. I have never seen them anywhere else, and once Publix stopped offering any choice of cookie for free, the Divinity disappeared along with it and I've never seen them there again and can't seem to locate them anywhere else either. Big sad face! I've done tons of googling, hoping to find a recipe that would suffice, but so far, I haven't had any luck getting an exact replica of my long-lost favorite, Publix divinity cookies.    

   This recipe is the closest that I've come so far. I've made it with just butter, just shortening, almond flavoring, pecans rather than walnuts...and this one is just the closest I think I'm gonna get until someone rescues me! :) I made these tonight and the kids and hubs raved over them and cleared out the first dozen in no time. So, even though I'm still searching for That Perfect Divinity Cookie, at least my family is excited! I must admit, they're pretty yummy and buttery and crumbly...they remind me a lot of Pecan Sandies. 

   Make sure you use walnuts (or whatever nut you go with) that are as fresh as possible--anytime you use a stale nut in baking, it flavors the entire cookie/cake/pie/bread, etc., with "staleness". Just not a happy thing. So always use as fresh as you can! Hope you like these cookies! If you ever come across another recipe for Divinity (not the candy...the cookie!), don't forget about me over here in my kitchen full of sunshine, wishing and hoping for the perfect one to drop in my lap! Happy Monday!