Italian Nut Roll Cookies Recipe
Italian Nut Roll Cookies are a delightful treat featuring a tender, buttery dough rolled around a sweet and nutty filling. This traditional Italian pastry combines a soft, slightly sweet cookie base with a rich walnut filling, baked to golden perfection for a perfect balance of textures and flavors, ideal for festive occasions or a charming dessert.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Nut Filling
- 2 cups finely chopped walnuts
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened butter and sugar until smooth and creamy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet, mixing just until a soft dough forms. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Make the Nut Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the finely chopped walnuts, sugar, melted butter, milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon if using. Stir well to form a spreadable filling.
- Roll and Fill the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a rectangle about ¼ inch thick. Spread the nut filling evenly over the dough, leaving a small border along the edges to seal.
- Shape the Rolls: Starting from one long side, tightly roll the dough into a log shape. Pinch the edges to seal and slice the roll into ½-inch thick circular cookies.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden and the cookies are set.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve as a delightful dessert or snack.
Notes
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans or almonds for a different nutty flavor.
- For a richer dough, add a tablespoon of sour cream or yogurt.
- Chilling the dough is crucial to make rolling easier and prevent cracking.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Optionally dust cookies with powdered sugar for extra sweetness before serving.
Keywords: Italian Nut Roll Cookies, walnut cookies, Italian desserts, nut-filled cookies, holiday cookies
Find it online: https://recipeswithria.com/italian-nut-roll-cookies-recipe/
