Average Rating: 5TOTAL TIME: Prep: 50 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch + cooling
YIELD: 4 dozen.Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
FILLING: - 3 large egg whites
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 3-1/2 cups ground walnuts
- Confectioners' sugar
Instructions
- 1. In a large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until blended. Gradually beat flour into creamed mixture. Divide dough into 3 portions. Shape each into a disk. Wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll.
- 2. Preheat oven to 375°. For filling, in a small bowl, beat egg whites and vanilla on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on medium after each addition until well blended. Stir in walnuts.
- 3. Generously coat a work surface with confectioners' sugar. Roll 1 portion of dough into a 12-in. square about 1/8 in. thick, sprinkling with additional confectioners' sugar as necessary to coat well. Cut into sixteen 3-in. squares.
- 4. Shape 2 teaspoons filling into a small log about 2 in. long. Place diagonally onto a square. Overlap opposite corners of dough over filling; pinch tightly to seal. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough and filling.
- 5. Bake until bottoms are golden brown, 9-11 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Dust with confectioners’ sugar.
- 6.
To Make Ahead: Dough can be made 2 days in advance. Wrap and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- 7.
Freeze option: Freeze cookies in freezer containers. To use, thaw before serving. If desired, dust with additional confectioners' sugar.
Nutrition Facts
1 cookie: 129 calories, 9g fat (4g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 49mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein.