I bake these delightful cookies every year for Christmas and when I share a tray of my homemade treats with the faculty at school, these are always the first to disappear! I've even had requests to make them for wedding receptions.
Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
2 cups dried apricots
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon shortening
4 teaspoons confectioners' sugar
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. Cream butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs. In another bowl, combine flour and walnuts; gradually beat into creamed mixture.
Shape into 1-1/2-in.-thick logs. Cut crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until bottoms begin to brown, 10-12 minutes. Cool completely on pans on wire racks.
Meanwhile, for filling, combine apricots and water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir until apricots are tender, about 10 minutes. Drain; cool to room temperature. Pulse 1/4 cup sugar, cinnamon and apricots in a blender or food processor until smooth. Spread over bottoms of half of the cookies; cover with remaining cookies.
For topping, melt chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.