Walnut sandies are a beloved cookie characterized by their delicate texture, nutty flavor, and iconic "sandwich" shape, filled with a sweet and creamy filling. Whether you're a seasoned baker looking to expand your repertoire or a novice cook seeking a delightful treat to impress your friends and family, this comprehensive guide will lead you on a culinary journey to create the perfect walnut sandies. Dive into the world of these delectable treats as we explore the nuances of ingredient selection, dough preparation, shaping techniques, and baking methods to achieve that perfect balance of crispness and chewiness.
Here are our top 3 tried and tested recipes!
THYME-WALNUT SANDIES
Steps:
- Make the cookies:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing halfway through, until golden brown, 7-10 minutes. Let cool.
- Pulse walnuts and whole wheat flour in a food processor until finely ground. Add all-purpose flour and salt and pulse to combine.
- Using your fingers, work thyme into granulated sugar in a small bowl until mixture starts to look moist and clump together. Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat thyme sugar, butter, and powdered sugar in a large bowl until light and smooth, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low and gradually add dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Use a rubber spatula to mix in any remaining dry spots or flour at the bottom of the bowl.
- Transfer dough to a sheet of parchment paper and form into a 12" log. Firmly roll up log in parchment paper, then wrap tightly in plastic. Chill on a flat surface until firm, at least 4 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350°. Slice off both ends of log to make neat edges, then remove plastic and parchment. Slice dough into 1/4"-thick rounds and place on parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets, spacing about 1" apart. Bake, rotating baking sheets halfway through, until edges of cookies are light golden but centers are still pale, 10-15 minutes. Let cookies cool on baking sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks and let cool completely.
- Make the icing and assemble:
- Whisk powdered sugar, orange zest, orange juice, cream, coconut oil, thyme, and salt in a medium bowl until no lumps remain.
- Using a spoon or small offset spatula, spread about 1 tsp. icing over each cooled cookie (you will have some icing left over). Let cookies sit until icing is set, at least 45 minutes.
- Do Ahead
- Dough can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled, or freeze up to 1 month. Cookies can be frosted 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.
WALNUT-MAPLE SANDIES
Provided by Food Network Kitchen
Categories dessert
Time 2h
Yield about 48 cookies
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, then transfer to a food processor and pulse until finely ground.
- Whisk the ground walnuts, 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the egg yolk, maple syrup and maple extract until incorporated. Reduce the mixer speed to medium low; add the flour mixture and beat until the dough comes together, about 2 minutes.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Form teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and arrange about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until golden, 18 to 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and brush the cookies with maple syrup; let cool 2 minutes on the baking sheets. Put the remaining 2 cups confectioners' sugar in a shallow bowl; add the cookies in batches and toss to coat, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
WALNUT SANDIES
Steps:
- 1. Cream together first four ingredients.
- 2. Mix together dry ingredients including 1 cup of the finely chopped walnuts, making sure to set aside 1/2 cup of them for the glaze.
- 3. Combine all ingredients and mix until well blended.
- 4. Place dough on sheet of waxed paper and roll into a long cylinder approximately 2" to 3" in diameter. Chill dough for 1 hour or until firm enough to slice with sharp knife.
- 5. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- 6. Unwrap dough, slice 1/2" thick pieces and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
- 7. Bake for 10 minutes or until edges are slightly brown.
Tips:
- Use high-quality walnuts. Fresh, plump walnuts will give your cookies the best flavor and texture.
- Toast the walnuts before using them. This will bring out their flavor and make them more fragrant.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. This will help the cookies be tender and crumbly.
- Chill the dough before baking. This will help the cookies hold their shape and prevent them from spreading too much.
- Bake the cookies until they are just set. Overbaking will make them dry and crumbly.
- Let the cookies cool completely before frosting them. This will help the frosting set properly.
Conclusion:
Walnut sandies are a classic holiday cookie that are easy to make and always a hit with family and friends. With their buttery, crumbly texture and sweet, nutty flavor, they're sure to be a favorite. So next time you're looking for a delicious and festive cookie to bake, give walnut sandies a try. You won't be disappointed.
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