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1
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
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2
In a glass measuring cup, add your milk and vinegar and whisk briskly.
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3
Let sit for approximately 10 minutes to sour.
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4
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, crisco, sugar and orange extract on high until well mixed (about 1 to 2 minutes).
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5
Set aside.
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6
In a separate large mixing bowl, combine 4 cups of flour (reserve the 2.5 cups to be added later), baking powder, baking soda, cocoa, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, orange peel, nuts and raisins.
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7
Alternately add your milk and beaten egg mixture to the dry ingredients, and mix my hand.
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8
Add the remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time and mix well (it's easier this way, trust me).
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9
Continue adding the flour until you can form the dough into a ball.
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10
If you don't use all the flour, that is okay, but your dough needs to be able to form a ball and it shouldn't stick to your hands.
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11
Using a teaspoon (my teaspoon looks like a melon baller), scoop out some dough and form into a ball.
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12
Place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
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13
Bake for 7 to 8 minutes ONLY.
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14
Place on table lined with waxed paper and let cool completely.
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15
FROSTING:.
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16
In a mixing bowl, beat your egg whites, orange extract and cream of tartar until foamy.
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17
Add your powder sugar one cup at a time and beat on medium speed for about 5 minutes.
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18
The frosting will be thick.
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19
Once your cookies have cooled, scoop out about 3 tablespoons of frosting into a small bowl (like a soup dish).
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20
Roll each cookie in the frosting (ensuring you get frosting all over the cookie).
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21
Hint: The cookies should NOT be coated heavily with the frosting (see pictures).
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22
Place on wax paper and let dry.
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23
Repeat until all cookies are frosted.
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24
Once the tops and sides of the cookies are dry, turn the cookies over and let the bottoms of the cookies dry.
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25
Place in a container (platic bag works just fine) and keep in the freezer until ready to serve.
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26
Enjoy!
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27
Prep time includes rolling out the cookies and frosting them.
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28
Baking time is for each tray of cookies.
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29
This makes approximately 17 dozen cookies (or 204 cookies).
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30
Nutritional value is for 1 cookie!
