1 cup sugar

1 cup dark Karo syrup

½ cup butter

1 cup milk

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp allspice

¼ tsp each: cloves, cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg, anise (or ¼ tsp liquid anise)

5-6 cups flour (to make stiff dough)

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Combine sugar, shortening, karo & milk.

Mix dry ingredients together, add a little at a time (with some flour)

Add flour to make a stiff dough.

Cover & store in cool place up to 5 days. Roll into logs (finger size). Cut ½ -inch pieces. Place close, but not touching, on cookie sheet. Bake until brown.

If you want to add some sweetness, make a simple syrup and drop them into it before cooling on a cooling rack. They are more of a “hard” cookie, but they work great in holiday cookie boxes!

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This recipe was shared with us by a dear friend & former colleague. We bake them each Christmas & remember her & the time we had together. It’s hard when we live far from those we care about, but little things can remind us of them – and the need to reach out to say hi.