Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Walnut Snowballs

1 C. butter, yes butter, only butter, don't even think of substituting
1/2 C. confectioner's sugar, plus plenty for dusting later on
1 tsp. vanilla
2-1/4 C. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 C. finely chopped walnuts (but you could use any tree nut and it would probably be just as good)

Cream together the butter, sugar, and vanilla.  In a separate bowl, mix together the flour and salt.  Using the Italian Knead*, blend together the wet and dry ingredients.  Mix in the nuts.  Form the dough into a ball and let it chill in the refrigerator (not overnight, just a couple of hours until it's a bit firmer).  Preheat the oven to 400F.  Roll walnut-sized balls of dough and place on an ungreased baking sheet.  (They have enough butter in them that they don't really need the sheet to be greased.)  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set, probably with fine cracks showing in the surface of the balls, but not browned.  (Some of them may get a tiny tiny suntan, but they should basically be the same color as when they went into the oven.  Trust me on this one.)  Remove from the oven and roll in a bowl filled with more powdered sugar.  Let cool slightly, then dust with still more powdered sugar.  Makes about 60 small cookies.
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So, to cap off my baking trials and tribulations of the weekend, I leave you with one decent recipe.  This recipe has been in the family for at least 50 years.  The product is a buttery, sweet, nutty delight that is both crisp and melts in your mouth.  So yes, it's one of my favorite holiday cookies.

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