italian nut rolls/cookies

(3 ratings)
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Elizabeth Fletcher
Glen Burnie, MD

My mother got this recipe from a coworker many years ago. It takes a little time to make, but OMG, awesome. This is my husband's favorite cookie!

Blue Ribbon Recipe

Like most Italian cookies, these nut roll cookies are made with love. They take time to prepare. Once baked, they remind us of smaller pecan tassies with walnuts. The dough is like a pastry and not sweet. It's the perfect complement to the sweet nut filling. Dusting these Italian nut rolls with powdered sugar makes them festive for the holiday season. The recipe makes a lot of cookies, so they're great for a crowd.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(3 ratings)
yield serving(s)
prep time 23 Hr
cook time 15 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For italian nut rolls/cookies

  • 4 1/2 c
    all-purpose flour
  • 3 tsp
    baking powder
  • 1/2 pt
    sour cream
  • 4 lg
    egg yolks
  • 1 lb
    butter or margarine (4 sticks)
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    granulated sugar
  • FILLING
  • 3/4 lb
    walnuts, ground fine
  • 1 c
    granulated sugar
  • 3 lg
    eggs whites, divided
  • 1 tsp
    vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tsp
    honey
  • FOR ROLLING
  • powdered sugar to mix with flour for rolling dough and for rolling finished cookie

How To Make italian nut rolls/cookies

Test Kitchen Tips
Save the egg white you don't put in the filling to brush the cookies the next day. Make sure to roll the dough thin, almost like a pie dough, and seal it well so they don't pop open in the baking process.
  • Egg yolks added to creamed butter and sugar.
    1
    Make the dough the night before baking. Beat egg yolks. Cream butter and sugar. Add beaten yolks.
  • Remaining dough ingredients added to the bowl.
    2
    Add the rest of the dough ingredients.
  • Dough ready to refrigerate.
    3
    Refrigerate overnight.
  • Egg whites, honey, and vanilla in a bowl.
    4
    Make filling the night before baking. Beat 2 egg whites. Add vanilla and honey. Mix well.
  • Mixing walnuts and sugar.
    5
    In a separate bowl, mix the ground walnuts and sugar.
  • Combining egg white and nut mixture.
    6
    Stir together the egg white mixture with the nut mixture. Refrigerate overnight.
  • Dough rolled on powdered sugar.
    7
    The next day, preheat the oven to 375 F. Roll the dough in flour with mixed powdered sugar.
  • Dough cut into squares.
    8
    Make 3-inch squares.
  • Filling in the center of the dough and folding corners over filling.
    9
    Put 1/2 tsp filling in the center of the square. Fold up 2 opposite corners.
  • Brushing cookies with an egg wash.
    10
    Brush with the remaining egg white.
  • Rolling dough in powdered sugar.
    11
    Roll in powdered sugar.
  • Baking the cookies.
    12
    Bake on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet for 12-15 minutes. Check after 12 minutes - don't overcook. After the cookies are cooled, roll in powdered sugar again.
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