My newest book:
COOKIES BRING IN THE NEW YEAR
One of my friends makes a fantastic assortment of holiday cookies every year, and always gives me a delicious selection and these are them! I love them all: Thumb Print Cookies with a dollop of jam, Anise Seed Cookies, Gingerbread Cookies, Chocolate-filled Dates (not cookies exactly, but deliciously festive)... and one of my favorites, Russian Tea Cakes. She has very kindly shared her recipe and here it is here!
Russian Tea Cakes or "Snowballs"
Mix together 1 cup soft butter, 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in 2 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix in 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts. Chill the dough for at least one hour. Roll into 1" balls with your hands. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes, until set, but not brown. While still warm, roll them in confectioner's sugar. At this point, they are very crumbly. This is the tricky part, because if the cookies are too hot, the sugar melts. If they are too cool, not enough sugar will stick. But no matter what, they are delicious!
She has collected up her favorite recipes over the years. Here is a picture of her baking when she was a little girl!
I am honored that she now uses my recipe from Mr. Cookie Baker for her cut-out decorated sugar cookies! (The recipe is included in my book and here on my website)
And right now at our home, Lydia is making Rugelach. The house smells so good! One of my favorite ways to celebrate any holiday is with cookies! Happy New Year!