Sand Tart Cookies and Crumb Cake were staples in a Pennsylvanian Dutch kitchen. Foods cooked there reflect the good foods of German heritage and also the hearty meals and foods associated with the heavy labor done by the farmers.

Sand Tart Cookies are always perfectly round with an almond pressed into the top. You don’t need a cookie cutter as you can use an inverted glass to cut them out. She liked to store them in chip canisters so that even though she had some to put out on the table when we came, she always had a canister for us to take “for the road”.

What you need:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 cups white flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 large egg whites, slightly beaten(you need this the second day, just before making)
• Mixture of cinnamon and sugar
• Almonds (you can also use pecans, but we like almonds the best)

What you do:

1. Cream the softened butter and sugar until it is fluffy
2. Add the eggs to this mixture and beat well
3. In another bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt
4. In small increments add the dry mixture to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition
5. Cover with plastic wrap
6. Chill overnight

Next day:

1. Turn the over on to 3350 degrees F to preheat
2. Roll cookie dough out thin, about 1/8-inch
3. Cut with round cookie cutter or glass
4. Move cookies over to a greased cookie sheet
5. Brush tops of cookies with egg white
6. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar
7. Top with a nut
8. Make approximately 8 minutes
9. Remove from oven and cool
10. Store in an airtight container


Make sure you have plenty on hand to put out when the grand-kids come over. (Teenage grandsons love to get their own package so they don’t have to share.)

Grandma’s Crumb Cake

We like to make this in a 9”x13” cake pan because it is so quick and easy. It is a good recipe for someone just learning to cook, and makes a great breakfast cake or for dessert or as a snack.

Crumb Cake

What you need:
• 1 cup butter
• 4 cups white flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk


What to do:

1. Turn the over on to 350 degrees to preheat
2. Grease the 9”x13” pan
3. Combine the butter, flour, sugar, salt and baking powder
4. Mix with your hands to form crumbs
5. Take out just enough for crumbs for the top of the cake (about ¾ cup), set aside
6. To the remaining crumbs add the eggs and milk and beat well
7. Pour into the greased cake pan
8. Sprinkle with crumbs
9. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until cake tester in center comes out clean
10. Remove from oven to cool
11. When cooled serve to your family or friends

We love to have family and friends around and feeding them yummy foods keeps them coming back for more!