{Image via Filomena Grossi}
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Nothing brings out the holiday spirit like waking up and seeing snowflakes out your window. It’s the sign that winter is finally here! As (from the show Gilmore Girls) would say, “Everything’s magical when it snows, everything looks pretty.”
These Snow Cookies (Walnut-Maple-Vanilla Sandies) are the perfect cookie to compliment your Nutella Hot Chocolate, or great hostess gift for your next holiday party! This recipe is super easy with a high yield, which is perfect because you can freeze extras and let them thaw out in case you have last-minute company this holiday season.
Snow Cookies (Walnut-Maple-Vanilla Sandies)
Recipe adapted from: Food Network Dec.2013
Ingredients
1 cup walnuts
2 1/3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ tsp. baking powder
¼ tsp. salt
½ cup of margarine at room temperature
1 egg
2 tbsp. pure maple syrup, plus extra for brushing
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
Tools
Parchment Paper 2 bowls
Baking Sheet Whisk
Electric mixer Measuring cups
{Image via Filomena Grossi}
1. Preheat the oven to 350 °. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until they are golden, approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Let them cool for 2 minutes, and then transfer them to a food processor and pulse until ground.
2. Whisk the ground walnuts, ½ cup confectioners’ sugar, the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
3. In another bowl, beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the egg, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Once incorporated, add the flour mixture. Beat at medium-low speed until the dough comes together.
4. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper. Form tiny balls of dough and place them on the parchment paper leaving about 1 inch apart from each cookie.
5. Bake for approximately 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden. You are going to want to make sure that halfway through baking you turn the baking sheet!
6. Remove from the oven, and brush the cookies with maple syrup — let cool for a few minutes.
7. Put the remaining 2 cups of confectioners’ sugar in a bowl; add cookies in batches and toss to coat. Transfer them to the rack and let them cool.
I love these cookies! They are not too sweet, but just perfect, especially when you want to indulge and drink some hot chocolate. You can even put them into a cute little box and give them away as a gift. Any hostess will appreciate these mini snow cookies.
Enjoy and Happy Holidays!
By
Katrina Manning
These are mouth-watering. I’ve baked several batches for multiple holiday seasons. I’ve done variations too. For instance, I’ve rolled some in crushed candy canes, some were rolled in crushed lemon candies, and I’ve dusted some with cocoa powder under the powdered sugar too.