Walnut Snowball Cookies

Christmas is just around the corner which means it’s time to get your holiday baking on! After all, what could possibly be sweeter than baking cookies at Christmastime? We can’t think of many things. Whether you’re leaving them out on a plate for Santa or serving them in a dessert platter at a party, homemade cookies are just one of those things that make this time of the year a little more special. Everyone has their personal favorites from classic sugar cookies and gingersnaps to adorable jam thumbprints and flavorful snickerdoodles. One of our favorites happen to be Snowball cookies! Petite and round sweet bites made with delicious organic walnuts and vanilla dusted in a coating of powdered sugar to resemble wintry balls of snow. While not the flashiest of your holiday desserts, they are certainly one of the most delicious with their sweet, buttery and nutty flavors. Gather your family and friends to join in on the baking fun–these are incredibly easy to make and even more addicting to eat!

If there’s a nut to represent the holiday season, it would have to be the walnut. Walnuts make a great ingredient in many recipes, from the savory to the sweet. These nuts are known as among the world’s healthiest and one of the fourteen “Super Foods”. They have a significant amount of omega-3 content and anti-inflammatory properties. They also aid in reducing bad cholesterol in the body and weight management. Walnuts can be eaten on their own whether raw, toasted or candied and are popular added to various desserts such as cookies, brownies and ice creams. Besides this recipe of walnut snowball cookies, you can also bake them into these lemon walnut cookies. Or you can add them as a tasty garnish by tossing them into salads.

Walnut Snowball Cookies

Yields: 25 to 30 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 and 1/2 cups of organic walnuts, chopped
• 1 cup of all-purpose flour
• 1 cup of powdered sugar (for dusting)
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt

In a large mixing bowl with an electric stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar. Then add the salt and vanilla. Slowly add the flour a little bit at a time. Then add the walnuts and continue mixing until incorporated.

2. On a flat surface, use your hands to form the dough into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for around an hour.

3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line your baking sheets with parchment paper.

4. Portion out the dough to about one tablespoon size per cookie and roll into a ball. Place the ball onto the baking sheet. Repeat this step, placing the cookie balls spaced about 1 inch apart from each other.

5. Place the baking sheet back into the refrigerator for around 15 minutes.

6. When ready to bake, place the baking sheet into the oven for around 12 to 14 minutes. Make sure not to over bake the cookies.

7. Remove from the heat and transfer the cookies on a wire rack for around 5 minutes.

8. Fill a bowl with the powdered sugar. While the cookies are still warm, roll the cookies in the sugar until well coated.

9. Serve immediately or store in a container for up to 3 days.