25 Days of Christmas Baking Day 9: Musner

My mother is pretty much 1/2 Danish.  Her mother was more than 3/4 Danish, and her father was 1/4.  However, they mostly immigrated during the first Danish Mormon migration to Utah. So, though we are many generations removed from Denmark, it's a big part of our heritage, and we still try to acknowledge it.  I, loving family history, have always been wanting to get in touch with my Danish heritage.  Part of that was learning more Danish recipes than the few I grew up with.  This is one that I have never regretted learning to make.  I call them Danish cookie-lets. And apparently they have some associations with Christmas (though I think that their baking aroma is the most Christmas part), so here we are!

Musner

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon baking ammonia or 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
2/3 cup half-and-half or light cream
3 cups all-purpose flour 

1. Beat butter until creamy.

2. Add sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking ammonia or cream of tartar, allspice, baking powder, and cloves. Beat until mixture is light and fluffy. 

3.Add cream, beat until well combined. 

4. Beat in the flour.  If you don't have a stand mixer, your electric mixer will probably be unable to handle this much flour and you'll have to change to by hand. 

5. chill 1 hour or until firm. 

6. Pre-heat oven to 400 F. 

7. Roll dough into six 10-inch-long ropes about 3/4 inch in diameter. Cut into 3/4-inch pieces. Place about 1/2 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

8. Bake for 9 to 10 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.