Italian Nut Roll Cookies Recipe
These Italian Nut Roll Cookies are a delightful treat combining a buttery, tender dough with a rich filling of chopped walnuts or pecans. Rolled into elegant spirals and baked to a golden perfection, they offer a perfect balance of crunchy nuts and soft cookie texture, making them ideal for holidays or any special occasion.
- Author: Joe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert/Cookie
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
Filling
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour and baking powder thoroughly to distribute the leavening agent evenly.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter and granulated sugar together until the mixture is light and fluffy, which helps create a tender cookie texture.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the creamed mixture, mixing well after each addition, then add the vanilla extract for flavor.
- Mix Dry Ingredients into Wet: Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough.
- Fold in Nuts: Gently fold the chopped walnuts or pecans into the dough to evenly distribute the nuts without breaking them up too much.
- Shape the Dough: Divide the dough into equal portions. Roll each portion into a flat rectangle about ½ inch thick, then roll each rectangle tightly into a log shape to create the spiral effect.
- Slice the Rolls: Cut each rolled log into slices to form the individual cookies.
- Bake: Arrange the slices on the prepared baking sheets and bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cookies turn golden brown around the edges.
Notes
- For a different nut flavor, substitute walnuts with pecans or hazelnuts.
- Ensure butter is soft but not melted for best creaming results.
- Rolling dough tightly is key to getting the classic nut roll swirl.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring to a wire rack to prevent breakage.
- Store cookies in an airtight container to maintain freshness.
Keywords: Italian nut roll cookies, walnut cookies, pecan cookies, holiday cookies, rolled cookies, nut spiral cookies