Recipe: Russian Tea Biscuits

Source:  Grandma Beppy 

About 3 1/2 dozen biscuits

Ingredients: 

Dough

• 4 1/2 C unsifted flour
  
• 1 T baking powder
• 1/2 t salt
• 3/4 C sugar
• 1/2 C oil an 1/4 C margarine
• 1/4 C orange juice (rind optional)
•  4 eggs (reserve 1 egg white for topping)
• 1 tsp vanilla

Filling

• 1 to 1 1/2 C chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
• 1 1/2 C raisins
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 C sugar
• any flavor jam or jelly (raspberry, marmalade, cherry are good)

Topping

• 1 reserved egg white
• 1/4 C sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1) Sift flour, baking powder, salt and sugar into a large bowl; make a well in the center and add oil, margarine, orange juice and rind, eggs (except for 1 reserved egg white), and vanilla.

2) Knead dough.  Chill for 2 hrs.

3) Cut cough in 4 parts. Roll one part on a floured board; spread with jam and sprinkle nuts, raisins and sugar-cinnamon mixture.

4) Roll as for jelly roll. Brush top with egg white and sprinkle with combined sugar & cinnamon.

5) Slice int o 1 1/2 in. slices and place on a lightly greased baking sheet with topping side up.

6) Repeat with 3 remaining pieces of dough.

7) Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Remove from baking sheet and cool on a rack.