Mewborn Team Real Estate Consultants: CoastalLuxurySanDiego.com

December 3rd, 2011

My Favorite Christmas Cookies

Categories: Newsletter Recipes

Russian Tea Cakes/Mexican Wedding Cakes

Russian Tea Cakes

When I was growing up, one of my favorite traditions was making Christmas cookies with my grandmother.  This was my absolute favorite!  It’s quick, easy, and such a great cookie to make with kids.  What kid doesn’t like to roll little balls of cookie dough – then coat it in sugar?
•    1 vanilla bean or 2 tsp of vanilla extract
•    1 cup sifted confectioners’ sugar
•    1 cup walnuts
•    1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
•    3/4 cup sugar
•    2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour

Put the vanilla in a bowl.  Add the confectioners’ sugar and mix them together.  Cover and let stand at least 1 hour.

Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and a second rack in the lower third then preheat to 350°F.

Grind the walnuts, then transfer to the a bowl. Add the butter and sugar and beat on medium speed, scraping the bowl occasionally, until completely incorporated, about 2 minutes. Add the flour in 3 batches and stir until a smooth dough forms, about 2 minutes.

On a lightly floured surface, shape heaping tablespoons of dough into small balls, leaving about 2 inches between cookies. Bake, until light golden brown (about 18 to 20 minutes). Let the cookies cool 2 to 3 minutes then carefully roll them in vanilla sugar and place on racks to cool completely. Continue baking cookies on cooled baking sheets. DO AHEAD: The cookies can be baked ahead and stored, in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 3 days.

Posted by Mike and Amy Mewborn// Please leave a comment.