St Nicholas Christmas Cookies: secret recipes!

Deanne's secret recipe:
Ice box Cookies ( do not double)

1 cup butter

2 cups dark brown sugar

2 eggs

1/4teaspoon salt

1 teas. soda

1 teas. cream of tartar

1 1/2 teas. baking pwd.

1 teas. vanilla

 4 cups flour

refrigerate for a few hours ( or overnight) until firm

roll out and bake at 375 for 10 ish minutes

Amy's secret recipe:

(Dutch Spice Cookies)
Thirteen-year-old Lisa Jaarsma of Pella, Iowa, says, "I brought these cookies to the Marion County fair, where I received a top ribbon for them. From there they went to the Iowa State Fair where I received a blue ribbon and the special Meredith Award for them." Lisa adapted this recipe from one used by the first settlers of Pella. Lisa's father Ralph owns Pella's Jaarsma Bakery which features many traditional Dutch pastries. These cookies are usually formed in cookie board molds, traditionally in the shape of St. Nicholas, they're often called "St. Nick" cookies.

St. Nicholas Cookie from 18th Century Mold Historic Hudson Valley

2 cups brown sugar
1 ½ cups butter or hard margarine
3 ½–4+ cups flour
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp salt, scant
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¾ teaspoon cloves
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon ginger

Cream butter and sugar. Add remaining ingredients and mix, adding enough flour to form a very stiff dough. Press well-chilled dough into cookie boards (flour mold well, press dough in with fingers, level it off, then turn the board over and bang one end on the counter so the cookie drops out).* Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350º F. for 10 to 12 minutes. Store in sealed container to retain crispness.