#1539 - Raisin Filled Cookies

(by Julie [Edinger] Solomon - friend)

1 1/2 cups Crisco shortening
3 cups Domino's dark brown sugar (packed)
5 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
6 cups flour
Filling: 2 cups Sunmaid raisins; 2 cups Domino's dark brown sugar; 6 TBSP flour; 2 cups water

Filling: in a saucepan over medium heat add raisins, 2 cups brown sugar, 6 TBSP flour, and water--stir and cook until thickened into a paste (about 5 to 10 minutes). Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature. In a mixer add Crisco and 3 cups brown sugar--beat. Add eggs--beat. Add vanilla and baking soda--beat. Add 3 cups of the flour--beat. Remove bowl from mixer and add the other 3 cups of the flour--stir with a wooden spoon. Roll the dough to 1/4" thick on floured counter (and flour the top of the cookie dough as well)--cut orange sized cookies using a cookie cutter. Place one spoonful of raisin paste on top of each cookie dough, then dip your finger in water and wet the whole edge of the cookie with water. Place a second cookie dough on top of the first and pinch the edges of the doughs together with your fingers or with the tines of a fork--the raisin paste should be in between the two cookie doughs. Place finished cookies on to greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.