Walnut-Filled Pillows

These tender cookie pillows, filled with a delicious walnut mixture, are my husband's favorite. He says it wouldn't be Christmas without them.

Walnut-Filled Pillows

Average Rating: 5

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. + chilling Bake: 10 min./batch
YIELD: 28 cookies.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
  • 3 ounces cold cream cheese
  • 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup ground walnuts
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • Confectioners' sugar

Instructions

  • 1. In a large bowl, cut butter and cream cheese into flour until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Blend mixture together until smooth dough forms, about 3 minutes. Pat into a rectangle; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. For filling, combine the walnuts, sugar, milk and vanilla.
  • 2. Unwrap dough and place on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 17-1/2x10-in. rectangle; cut into 2-1/2-in. squares. Place a level teaspoonful of filling in the center of each square. Moisten edges with water; fold in half and seal with a fork. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Brush with egg.
  • 3. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Remove to wire racks to cool. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

Nutrition Facts

1 each: 84 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 20mg cholesterol, 45mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.