This holiday also had a trip to VA, where my all of my cousins were in for Christmas. At the instigation of Ben, we made the Lithuanian cookie Krusties (pronounced, at least by my family, christies)

The recipe is fairly simple:

Krusties
1/2 tsp baking powder
6 whole eggs
6 egg yolks
2 sticks butter
6 cups flour
1 shot whiskey/rum
pinch cardamom

1 large can crisco, for frying

Mix together all the ingredients in a mixer. Wrap in waxed paper or place in a plastic bag, and refrigerate overnight.

When ready to make, heat solid fat (Crisco or lard) in large frying pan. You’ll need an inch or two of hot oil.

You’ll also want to line most of your work areas with newspaper, or used wrapping paper, or anything else that absorbs oil and sugar, and makes clean up easier.

Find aprons for everyone–this can get messy! We rolled out our batches of dough on floured waxed paper.

Roll out dough very thin, in reasonable batches. If you have more participants than you have rolling pins, the dough can be smooshed flat with your hands before rolling.

Cut the dough into small strips, then cut a slice in the middle of the strip. Twist one side of the dough through the hole.

Once the oil is hot, in small batches, fry the cookies. You’ll need to add more shortening to the pan as you fry the cookies.

Fry in small batches, otherwise the oil will cool down too much, and you’ll end up with greasy cookies.

Drain the cookies on newspaper or the backside of Christmas wrapping paper or anything else that absorbs grease.

Let the cookies cool, then sprinkle with powdered sugar

Enjoy!