Active Time

　　1 1/2 hr

　　Total Time

　　5 hr

　　"A friend gave me this great cookie recipe from the Netherlands," writes Marie Rizzio of Traverse City, Michigan. "The dough can be made ahead and frozen."

　　

Ingredients

Makes about 8 dozen

　　1 teaspoon baking soda

　　1/2 cup hot water

　　2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened

　　2 cups packed dark brown sugar

　　4 cups all-purpose flour

　　1 teaspoon salt

　　1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

　　1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

　　1/2 teaspoon ground mace

　　Pinch of ground cloves

　　1 cup slivered almonds (4 oz)

　　

Step 1

Stir together baking soda and water until baking soda is dissolved.

　　

Step 2

Beat together butter, brown sugar, and baking soda mixture with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy.

　　

Step 3

Whisk together flour, salt, and spices, then mix into butter mixture until combined well. Stir in almonds. Form dough into 3 (10- by 3-inch) logs and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Freeze logs until firm, about 4 hours, or overnight.

　　

Step 4

Preheat oven to 350°F.

　　

Step 5

Keeping remaining logs frozen, cut 1 log crosswise into slices slightly less than 1/4 inch thick and arrange slices 1 inch apart on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake in middle of oven until set, 12 to 14 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool. Slice and bake remaining dough in same manner.