I made these today and was instantly whisked back to my childhood. I was full of memories of watching my mother make these for the holidays, the scent filling first the kitchen and then the whole house. The rich smell of the nutmeg was a signal to me that Santa was coming soon!
Cookie:
3 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp nutmeg
1 cup butter
2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
Sift together flour, salt, and nutmeg. Cream butter with vanilla; gradually add sugar and blend in egg. Blend dry ingredients into mixture. On a sugared board, shape pieces of dough into long rolls 1/2 inch in diameter, and then cut into 3″ lengths. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
Frosting:
3 Tbs. butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 Tbs milk
Combine frosting ingredients and beat until creamy. Spread over cooled cookies. Sprinkle lightly with nutmeg.
A cookie very mild in sweetness, topped with an icing that packs a sweet punch, and, finally, a kick of warm, soothing nutmeg to tie it all together. Just biting into one made me ache for a hug from my mom.
Life on Wild Hare Farm 
How delicious sounding! I’m going to try them! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
They are so wonderful! I’ve been craving them for years and finally remembered to actually ask Mom for the recipe. They’re a delicious, old-fashioned cookie, and not one you see very often! I can’t stop eating them!!!
We are baking cookies for Santa this week. I just may need to add these to the list for something new and different. I’m sure Santa is a fan of nutmeg 🙂
Did you forget to put in the amount for sugar? I’m mixing them up and it says to stir in sugar. What sugar? Please read this and answer soon!!! 🙂
Great catch! I added it in – 3/4 cup sugar.