Description
Powdery Russian Tea Cookies sprinkle nostalgia across holiday gatherings with delicate walnut-studded shortbread that melts instantly on your palate. Generations of family memories nestle within each crumbly, sugar-dusted bite, inviting warm connections around cherished traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (90 g) finely chopped pecans or walnuts
- ½ cup (60 g) powdered sugar (plus extra for rolling)
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Cream butter and powdered sugar until fluffy, blending in vanilla extract. Gradually incorporate flour and salt, mixing until just combined. Gently fold chopped nuts throughout the mixture, ensuring even distribution. Wrap dough and refrigerate for half an hour to firm up.
- Shaping and Baking: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheet with parchment paper. Craft dough into compact 1-inch spheres, positioning them with slight separation. Bake 12-15 minutes until edges turn delicately golden and cookies appear set.
- Sugaring Process: Allow cookies to rest momentarily after removing from oven. While still warm, delicately enrobe each cookie in powdered sugar, creating a soft, cloud-like coating. Once completely cooled, repeat the powdered sugar dusting to achieve a pristine, snow-kissed appearance. The double coating ensures a luxurious, powdery finish that melts in your mouth.
Notes
- Refrigerate the dough for exactly 30 minutes to prevent spreading and maintain the cookies’ signature round shape during baking.
- Roll cookies in powdered sugar while still warm for the first coating, but ensure complete cooling before the second dusting to achieve a perfect, even snow-white exterior.
- Use finely chopped pecans or walnuts for the best texture and flavor balance; ensure nuts are room temperature and evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Use parchment paper or silicone baking mats to prevent cookies from sticking and ensure easy removal without breaking their delicate structure.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Russian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg