Becky Diamond, Author
  • About
  • Thousand Dollar Dinner
  • Mrs Goodfellow
  • Becky's Blog
  • Reviews/Events
  • Writing Clips
  • Books We Read
  • News/Articles
  • Book Clubs
  • Anna Maxwell's Recipes
  • Fun Food History Videos
  • BLOG_2

Jumbles - A Delicately Spiced Butter Cookie

7/21/2012

0 Comments

 
Picture
Jumbles (sometimes spelled jumbals) were one of the first cookies to become popular in America and a signature recipe of Philadelphia cooking school instructor Mrs. Elizabeth Goodfellow. I started making them when doing the research for my book about this amazing lady, and they have become one of my go-to cookie recipes, as they are so easy to make and I love the aromatic flavorings they contain - notably rose water and freshly grated nutmeg. (In fact, they were sometimes called "rose jumbles.")
The name jumbles comes from the Latin word gemel, which means twin, since the cookies were originally shaped like a figure eight or a double ring. But, we Americans soon found that too time-consuming (big surprise!), and to make preparation quicker and easier, it soon became customary to form the dough into single rings. Eventually even the ring shape fell out of favor, and jumbles were often simply rolled out and cut into circles. (From Mrs. Goodfellow: The Story of America's First Cooking School, p. 171).
You can see from the photos below how to shape the dough into rings. After chilling it for at least two hours, it is rolled out, then cut into narrow strips. Each strip is rolled between between the palms or on a work surface to form a rope approx. 5-in long. The ends of each rope are then brought together to ceate a ring (I discovered it is easier to wrap them around my finger, but really whatever method works!) The "rings" are then placed on a baking sheet, spaced about 1 in apart. Once they come out of the oven they are sprinkled with sugar. Enjoy this unique taste combination that is both spicy and delicate. 
 
Jumbles
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon rose water
  • 3 cups sifted flour
  • 2 teaspoons freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon mace
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Additional granulated sugar

1. Cream butter and sugar until very light. Add egg and rose-water, blending thoroughly. (May substitute lemon  extract to taste for rose-water.
2. Sift flour with spices. Add all at once to creamed mixture, blending well.
3. Wrap dough and chill at least 2 hours.
4. On lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4" thickness. 
5. Cut with doughnut cutter or cut into narrow strips and shape into rings. 
6. Bake cookies on ungreased sheets in preheated 375 degree oven 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned around edges. Remove to rack, sprinkle with sugar and cool. Makes about 3 dozen.

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    So much of our history can be learned through food!
    My second book, The Thousand Dollar Dinner, follows the unique story of a luxurious 17-course feast that helped launch the era of grand banquets in nineteenth century America. I am also the author of Mrs Goodfellow: The Story of America's First Cooking School.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2020
    May 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    July 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

PictureNIEA 10th Annual Award Winner, New Non Fiction
Author photo in website banner by Heather Raub of FrontRoom Images
Hair by Kelly McGrenehan, Innovations IV Hair Salon
Makeup by Gina Kozlowski
Site design by Braintree Publicity