Cressa’s Cherry Winks

Cornflake-coated cookies filled with pecans, dates and maraschino cherries from a handwritten 1970 recipe.

Cornflake-coated cookies filled with pecans, dates and maraschino cherries from a handwritten 1970 recipe.

A handwritten 1970 recipe for Nellie and Cressa’s Spice Cookies—with dark molasses, warm spices, and the choice to bake them now or chill the dough for tomorrow.

A handwritten 1970 recipe for Cressa’s Spice Cookies—with molasses, warm spices, Cressa’s own shortcut, and one rule: “Do not over bake.”