Description
Festive Italian nut roll cookies bring nostalgic Mediterranean flavors to holiday celebrations. Delicate pastry swirled with rich walnut filling promises a sweet journey through traditional family recipes you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (2 sticks/226 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
Nut and Spice Filling:
- 1 cup finely ground walnuts
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Cream softened butter and sugar in a spacious mixing bowl until the mixture appears airy and pale, creating a smooth base for the cookie dough.
- Incorporate eggs individually, thoroughly blending after each addition, then fold in fragrant vanilla extract to enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate container, ensuring even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Gently fold dry ingredients into the butter mixture, stirring until just integrated to maintain a tender cookie texture.
- Partition the dough into two equal segments, encase each in plastic membrane, and chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of half an hour to firm up the mixture.
- Prepare the filling by blending ground walnuts, granulated and powdered sugars, aromatic cinnamon, and warming nutmeg until thoroughly combined.
- Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C), creating an ideal baking environment.
- On a generously floured surface, roll out one dough portion to a precise 1/4-inch thickness, creating a delicate pastry base.
- Distribute the nutty filling evenly across the rolled dough, ensuring complete coverage.
- Carefully roll the dough into a compact cylinder, mimicking a jelly roll technique.
- Slice the rolled dough into 1-inch segments, creating individual cookie portions.
- Arrange the cookie slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet, allowing space between each piece.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until the edges turn a golden brown, signaling perfect doneness.
- Allow cookies to rest briefly on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire cooling rack to complete the cooling process.
- Savor the delectable nutty confections, celebrating the harmonious blend of flavors and textures.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent spreading and maintain the cookie’s shape during baking.
- Toast walnuts beforehand to enhance their nutty flavor and create a deeper, more complex taste profile.
- Experiment with alternative nuts like pecans or almonds for a unique twist on the traditional recipe.
- Use powdered sugar for a delicate dusting after cooling to add an elegant finishing touch and subtle sweetness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 178
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 54 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 32 mg