Italian Nut Roll Cookies Recipe
Delicious Italian Nut Roll Cookies featuring a rich buttery dough rolled around a sweet nut filling, sliced into perfect bite-sized pieces, and baked to golden perfection. These traditional cookies offer a delightful combination of tender pastry and fragrant nuts, making them a perfect treat for holidays or any special occasion.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
- Yield: About 3 dozen cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Nut Filling
- 2 cups finely ground walnuts or pecans
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a smooth dough forms. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Make the Nut Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the finely ground nuts, sugar, melted butter, milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon if using. Mix well until the filling is moist and holds together.
- Roll the Dough with Filling: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. Spread the nut filling evenly over the entire surface of the dough, leaving a small border around the edges. Carefully roll up the dough starting from one long side to form a tight log.
- Slice the Cookies: Using a sharp knife, slice the rolled log into 1/2-inch thick slices. Place the slices onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spacing them about 1 inch apart to allow for slight spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the sliced cookies for 15-18 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For best results, chill the dough thoroughly before rolling to prevent it from becoming too soft.
- Ground nuts can be toasted lightly beforehand to enhance flavor.
- These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to one week.
- Optional: dust with powdered sugar once cooled for added sweetness and presentation.
Keywords: Italian nut roll cookies, nut filling cookies, Italian desserts, holiday cookies, walnut cookies, homemade Italian cookies
Find it online: https://familyfavplates.com/italian-nut-roll-cookies-recipe/
