Best 6 Italian Walnut Shortbread Cookies Recipes

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Embark on a culinary adventure to create the ultimate Italian Walnut Shortbread Cookies, a delightful treat that captures the essence of Italy's rich flavors. These delectable cookies, known as "biscotti di noci" in Italian, combine the rustic charm of walnuts with the buttery goodness of shortbread, creating a perfect balance of textures and flavors. Whether you're a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, this guide will provide you with the secrets to crafting these exquisite cookies that will impress your family and friends. Discover the perfect combination of ingredients, the ideal baking techniques, and the art of creating enticing presentations that will make your Italian Walnut Shortbread Cookies the star of any gathering.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

WALNUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES



Walnut Shortbread Cookies image

This recipe originally came from the back of a Diamond Walnut package back in the 1970's. I started baking a lot when I was in high school and my taste testers were my dad and my parent's best friends. These were their friend Bud's very favorites so I made them quite a bit. I thought I lost the recipe but after about an hour of searching I found it in a stack of recipes that I had given to my mom. I hope you like them as much as Bud did!

Provided by NVirginian

Categories     Dessert

Time 30m

Yield 2 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

Steps:

  • Resift the flour with the baking powder.
  • Cream the butter with the sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually blend in the flour mixture.
  • Stir in the walnuts.
  • Cover and chill for at least 2 hours.
  • Roll out onto floured board to 1/4" thickness. Cut into any shape.
  • Bake on ungreased cookie sheets at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
  • Make 2 to 2 1/2 dozen delicious cookies.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1577.1, Fat 112.4, SaturatedFat 60.3, Cholesterol 244, Sodium 859.5, Carbohydrate 129.5, Fiber 5.3, Sugar 30.5, Protein 18.3

WALNUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES



Walnut Shortbread Cookies image

Provided by Food Network

Yield Makes about 42 1 1/4-inch cookies

Number Of Ingredients 7

1/2 cup (2 ounces) walnut pieces
1 3/4 cups (89ounces) flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter
3/4 cup (5 1/2 ounces) sugar
1 egg yolk
Maldon sea salt

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Toast the walnuts until lightly browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool, then finely grind them in a food processor. Sift flour and salt into a bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on low speed, beat together the butter and sugar until lightened, about 4 minutes. Add the yolk and mix until fully incorporated. Add the dry ingredients and walnuts and mix just to combine. If the dough is soft, wrap it tightly in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Otherwise, roll out the dough about 1/2 inch thick on a lightly floured work surface into a 6-by-7-inch rectangle. Using a ruler, square the edges as much as possible. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into1-inch squares. Place them about 2 inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Bake the cookies until they are firm, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool. Store in airtight containers for up to 2 weeks.

WALNUT FOOTBALL COOKIES



Walnut Football Cookies image

Provided by Giada De Laurentiis

Categories     dessert

Time 3h45m

Yield about 16 cookies, depending on the size of your cutter

Number Of Ingredients 12

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 cup ground walnuts
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
1/2 teaspoon orange zest (from 1/2 orange)

Steps:

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, walnuts, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Set aside.
  • Using a hand mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar together in a large bowl on medium- high speed, scrapping down the sides with a rubber spatula as needed, until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the vanilla extract and egg and beat an additional minute.
  • Reduce the speed to low and add the flour in 3 batches, beating until the flour is just combined. Place the dough on a large piece of plastic wrap and pat it into a round disk. Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Dust the counter and dough with flour and roll the chilled dough to 1/4 inch thick. Using a football-shaped cookie cutter, cut the dough into footballs and place on the prepared baking sheet, leaving about 1 inch between each cookie. Bake until firm to the touch and starting to get a whisper of golden brown around the edges, about 20 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, orange liqueur and orange zest. Spoon the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a narrow, round tip. When the cookies are completely cool, pipe lacing on the footballs. Allow them to set up completely before serving. Store in an airtight container to prevent drying out.

WALNUT SHORTBREAD



Walnut Shortbread image

Poking holes in the dough allows steam to escape, helping to give this walnut shortbread its crisp texture.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Time 55m

Yield Makes 8

Number Of Ingredients 6

1/2 cup walnuts, toasted
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, plus more for dusting
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Pulse walnuts in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl, and whisk in flour and salt.
  • Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla until pale and fluffy. Slowly add walnut mixture, and beat until just combined.
  • Butter an 8-inch round cake pan. Transfer dough to pan. Place a piece of plastic wrap on dough, and use it to press the dough evenly into pan (this will prevent the dough from sticking to your fingers). Cut dough into 8 wedges using a paring knife. Prick all over with a wooden skewer or fork.
  • Bake until golden brown and firm in center, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack. Recut into wedges and prick again. Let cool slightly. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

ITALIAN SPRINKLE COOKIES



Italian Sprinkle Cookies image

Of all the Italian cookie recipes I make, this is my favorite. These sprinkle cookies take some time, but, believe me, they are well worth it! My husband and I used to operate an Italian American restaurant, and this recipe goes back generations. -Gloria Cracchiolo, Newburgh, New York

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Desserts

Time 40m

Yield about 7 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 13

6 large eggs, room temperature
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons plus 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup shortening
3 teaspoons almond extract
1-1/2 teaspoons lemon extract
GLAZE:
3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup warm 2% milk
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Colored sprinkles

Steps:

  • Using a heavy-duty mixer, beat eggs on high speed until light and foamy, about 5 minutes; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, confectioners' sugar and baking powder; on low speed, gradually beat in shortening and extracts until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Gradually add beaten eggs (dough will be stiff). , Roll dough into 1-in. balls. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-14 minutes (tops of the cookies will not brown, but bottoms should brown slightly). , Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the confectioners' sugar, milk and extracts until smooth. As soon as cookies are removed from the oven, quickly dip 2 or 3 at a time into glaze. Remove with a slotted spoon or tongs; place on wire racks to drain. Immediately top with sprinkles. Let dry for 24 hours before storing in airtight containers.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 87 calories, Fat 3g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 13mg cholesterol, Sodium 49mg sodium, Carbohydrate 14g carbohydrate (8g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 1g protein.

ROSEMARY-WALNUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES



Rosemary-Walnut Shortbread Cookies image

Rosemary represents remembrance. So our rosemary shortbread cookies are sure to make a lasting impression. Download our decorative card; color-print onto heavy paper.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories     Food & Cooking     Dessert & Treats Recipes     Cookie Recipes

Yield Makes about 4 dozen

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup finely ground walnuts
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Raw sugar, for decorating

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Whisk flour, nuts, rosemary, and salt in a large bowl.
  • Put butter and sugars into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until lightened, about 3 minutes. Mix in vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture; mix until dough comes together and is smooth, about 3 minutes.
  • Turn out dough onto parchment paper, and pat into a round. Place parchment paper on top; roll into a 12-inch round, 1/4 inch thick. Transfer to a baking sheet; refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
  • Cut out cookies using various sizes of heart-shape cutters (1/2 inch to 3 inches); transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. (Keep same-size cookies on same sheet.) Roll scraps; cut out. Gently press raw sugar onto edges of cookies.
  • Bake until just golden, 15 to 18 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days.

Tips:

  • Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the cookies will taste. Choose walnuts that are fresh and plump, and use unsalted butter for a richer flavor.
  • Chill the dough before baking: This will help the cookies hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
  • Use a cookie press or piping bag to create decorative shapes: This is a great way to add a festive touch to your cookies.
  • Bake the cookies until they are just set: Overbaking will make them dry and crumbly.
  • Let the cookies cool completely before storing them: This will help them keep their shape and flavor.

Conclusion:

Italian walnut shortbread cookies are a delicious and easy-to-make treat that are perfect for any occasion. With their delicate flavor and crumbly texture, these cookies are sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them. So next time you're looking for a special dessert, give these cookies a try. You won't be disappointed!

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