Walnut Meltaways Recipe
Walnut Meltaways are delicate, buttery cookies studded with finely chopped walnuts and dusted with powdered sugar. These melt-in-your-mouth treats feature a light, crumbly texture that perfectly balances sweetness and nuttiness, making them an ideal accompaniment to tea or coffee.
- Author: Isla
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Prepare the Oven and Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent the cookies from sticking.
- Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and salt to ensure the salt is evenly distributed throughout the flour.
- Cream the Butter and Sugar: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with powdered sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, which takes about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add the Vanilla and Walnuts: Mix in the vanilla extract and the finely chopped walnuts, making sure they are well incorporated into the butter mixture.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to maintain a tender cookie texture.
- Shape the Cookies: Using your hands or a small cookie scoop, form the dough into small balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn golden brown.
- Cool the Cookies: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow the cookies to cool on it for about 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Dust with Powdered Sugar: Once fully cooled, dust the cookies generously with powdered sugar for a sweet, elegant finishing touch.
Notes
- Storage Suggestions: Store walnut meltaways in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week to keep them fresh.
- Customization Options: Substitute walnuts with other nuts like pecans or almonds if preferred. Experiment with different extracts such as almond or maple for varied flavors.
- Chilling the Dough: If the dough is soft and difficult to handle, chill it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before shaping to make handling easier.
Keywords: Walnut Meltaways, buttery cookies, nut cookies, powdered sugar cookies, easy dessert, tea time cookie, walnut recipes