Walnut Cookies Recipe (2024)

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Easy walnut cookies recipe from scratch made with only a handful of simple ingredients. Walnuts, brown sugar, jam, just a touch of nut flour and vanilla then rolled in powdered sugar like a snowball before being baked into nutty perfection. A favorite Easter and Christmas treat loved by all! (Watch the Video tutorial below).

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Walnut Cookies Recipe

It’s like Italian snowball cookies and European nut horn cookies got married. Perfectly crispy bottoms but with a divinely soft and chewy nutty center. An Easter and Christmas classic treat that is naturally gluten free, better for you and way easier to make than a nut roll.

A really simple tea cookie made without any eggs, no butter or dairy, oil free and no baking powder needed either.

Recipe Tips

  • About the Walnuts – Make sure to use raw pieces, not toasted or candied as we are going to chop them all up before baking.
  • Swaps – If need be pecans can be used instead of walnuts here and the apricot jam can be swapped for your favorite kind.
  • Variation – For a more festive flavor replace the water with equal parts of your favorite rum.
  • The Sugar – I used light brown sugar for its caramel like flavor but regular granulated sugar can be used in a pinch.
  • Add Ins – Dried cranberries or cherries and a sprinkling mini chocolate chips would make nice additions. You can also opt for equal parts walnuts + pistachios reminiscent of baklava filling.
  • Storage – The cookies can be stored uncovered at room temperature for a couple of days or in a lidded container / cookie jar for up to two weeks. Truth be told these never made it in our home past day 2 so please report back if yours make it for longer.
  • Crispy bottoms – After turning off the heat allow the cookies to sit in the oven for an extra 2 minutes with the oven door slightly open.

how to make walnut cookies from scratch

  1. Process the walnuts with the brown sugar and lemon zest until the mixture resembles wet sand.
  2. In a medium bowl whisk together the jam with the water (or rum) and vanilla extract. Add the walnut mixture and mix until a dough is formed. Chill for 20 minutes or make ahead and refrigerate overnight.
  3. Shape your cookies and toss in powdered sugar.
  4. Arrange on a cookie sheet and bake @375 until toasty. (See exact measurements and times in the recipe card below).

Walnut Cookies Recipe (5)

5 from 5 votes

Walnut Cookies

These easy walnut cookies from scratch are made with only a handful of simple ingredients: walnuts, brown sugar, jam, just a touch of nut flour and vanilla then rolled in powdered sugar before baking into perfection. It’s like Italian snowball cookies and European horn cookies got married.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:15 minutes mins

Cook Time:15 minutes mins

Total Time:30 minutes mins

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • To the bowl of a food processor add the walnut pieces together with the brown sugar, lemon zest and a pinch of salt. Use the pulse button and process until the mixture resembles wet sand.

    3 cups walnut pieces, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1 tsp lemon zest, 1 pinch sea salt

  • In a medium mixing bowl combine the apricot jelly with the water and vanilla extract. Add the walnut mixture. Use a spatula and combine everything until a dough is formed. Sprinkle in the walnut or almond flour and combine again until incorporated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the cookie dough for 20 minutes.

    2 Tbsp apricot jam, 3 Tbsp water or rum, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 4 Tbsp walnut or almond flour

  • Preheat your oven to 375”F.

  • Prepare a small bowl with powder sugar and have a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper ready.

    powder sugar for coating

  • Use a tablespoon and scoop out the cookie dough, shape into a round ball. Alternatively use your finger to help push the dough out of the spoon straight into the powder sugar bowl. Toss to coat lightly then transfer to the cookie sheet. (The powder sugar coating is optional but yields nice crinkle snowball cookies). Repeat with the remaining cookie dough and make sure to leave plenty of space between the cookies.

  • Bake the cookies for 13 minutes, turn off the heat and allow cookies to sit in the oven for 2 extra minutes. Transfer to a cooling rack and allow to cool off completely.

Video

Notes

  • About the Walnuts - Make sure to use raw pieces, not toasted or candied as we are going to chop them all up before baking.
  • Swaps - If need be pecans can be used instead of walnuts here and the apricot jam can be swapped for your favorite kind.
  • Variation - For a more festive flavor replace the water with equal parts of your favorite rum.
  • The Sugar - I used light brown sugar for its caramel like flavor but regular granulated sugar can be used in a pinch.
  • Add Ins - Dried cranberries or cherries and a sprinkling mini chocolate chips would make nice additions. You can also opt for equal parts walnuts + pistachios reminiscent of baklava filling.
  • Storage - The cookies can be stored uncovered at room temperature for a couple of days or in a lidded container / cookie jar for up to two weeks. Truth be told these never made it in our home past day 2 so please report back if yours make it for longer.
  • Crispy bottoms - After turning off the heat allow the cookies to sit in the oven for an extra 2 minutes with the oven door slightly open.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie | Calories: 142kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 5mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 7IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: European, Italian

Keyword: snowball cookies, tea cookies, walnut cookies

Servings: 21 cookies

Calories: 142kcal

Italian Desserts:

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  1. Walnut Cookies Recipe (14)
    Made these for the 2023 holidays and they were a hit as gifts! I used a cookie scoop so my cookies turned out normal cookie size instead of little balls, but they still tasted delicious.

    Definitely want to try some of your listed variations (such as rum or pistachios and walnuts together). Will be saving this recipe for future use, and will try to make smaller cookies next time!

    Can’t believe how easy these were. My only issue was my food processor died without me knowing, so when my tiny little grinder wouldn’t work I had to put my walnuts in a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Ended up having some walnut chunks, so not sure if that’s how the recipe is supposed to be with the use of a food processor, but it added a nice crunch and texture to the cookies.

    Reply

  2. Help! I made the dough last night and it’s separated this morning. I did have to substitute rice flour for the almond flour. What did I do wrong? Or more importantly, how can I fix it? More walnuts??

    Reply

    1. Hi Chery, rice flour Is not recommended in this recipe. You could salvage the dough by adding almond flour or walnut flour until it all comes together into a nice thick dough. Worst case just keep adding more rice flour and see if that holds up. Let me know the end result 🙂 ~ Florentina

      Reply

      1. 8 tablespoons of almond flour later and I had cookies! I overlooked the almond flour in my first read of the recipe and then had to find a substitute. These are delicious and I’m adding them to the holiday cookie baking list. Thank you

        Reply

  3. Walnut Cookies Recipe (15)
    Delicious! And I get a very high Zoe nutrition score for them too!

    Reply

  4. Walnut Cookies Recipe (16)
    Awesome cookies. I made them for a 50th anniversary party and they were a big hit!

    Reply

  5. Hello, I would like to make these but am curious as to where you get almond or walnut flour. Thank you!

    Reply

    1. You should be able to find almond flour at your local grocery store next to all the other types of flour or maybe the gluten-free section.

      Reply

  6. What other jam can we use? Strawberry or raspberry? Does it make a difference

    Reply

    1. I think you are ok to use a strawberry jam, I probably wouldn’t use raspberry just because it has a stronger flavor, however it’s all trial and error and all that matters is that you like it. Enjoy and report back on the cookies 🙂

      Reply

  7. I don’t have a processor to process the walnuts and sugar is there a substitute option?

    Reply

    1. You could chop the walnuts by hand on a large cutting board, you’ll need to go through them a few times and get that texture as small as you can but don’t worry if it isn’t perfect. Do your best and chop them well, they will taste delicious!

      Reply

  8. Delicious! I halved the recipe and used orange marmalade for the jam. Rolled some in confectioners’ sugar, others not. Both were yummy! I like that the cookies are not too sweet. A simple tasty cookie that I will make again. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

  9. Walnut Cookies Recipe (17)
    Wow! These are fabulous! Very hard to wrap my head around the fact that they do not contain any butter, eggs or wheat flour! The taste of the walnuts really shines and the slight tang from the apricot jam comes through beautifully. Mine were more flat and I lost any “crinkle” effect, but they are still beyond delicious! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe; it is a keeper!

    Reply

    1. I am so happy you loved these cookies Karen! To get the crinkle it’s important to coat them really well in fine powdered sugar. Next time try adding a little more almond flour to get a firmer cookie which won’t flatten out that much. I love these so much, they really scream Christmas time and very nostalgic for me. Enjoy! ~ Florentina Xo’s

      Reply

  10. Walnut Cookies Recipe (18)
    The perfect cookies! Wow! If you love walnuts you are going to love these cookies. Everything about them is perfect and bonus points for being the easiest cookies I’ve ever made and made without butter or fat or oil. Will be making these for Easter

    Reply

Walnut Cookies Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes cookies fluffy and not flat? ›

Room temperature butter is just the right consistency to incorporate air when it's creamed with sugar. These trapped air pockets result in risen, fluffy cookies. If the butter is any warmer, it won't incorporate enough air and your cookies will have less rise.

How do you make cookies soft and chewy vs hard and crisp? ›

Different types of sugars affect the texture because they absorb different amounts of water. Remember moisture is the key! White sugar creates crispier cookies and brown sugar creates chewier cookies.

What happens if I eat 2 walnuts everyday? ›

Eating walnuts on a daily basis poses little to no harm unless you have a food sensitivity, intolerance or allergy. With that said, replacing less nutrient-dense foods with nutrient-dense options, like walnuts, may help you achieve your health goals. Who knows, you may experience a boost in your mood, too.

What if I eat 20 walnuts a day? ›

Excessive consumption of walnuts may cause diarrhea, bloating, stomach pain or kidney stones. Due to the phytic acid they contain, too many walnuts may also inhibit the absorption of dietary iron, calcium and zinc. Recommendation: One ounce (10-14) English walnut halves per day.

Should I use baking soda or baking powder in cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

What is the secret to thick cookies? ›

A low proportion of sugar relative to flour reduces spread, keeping the cookies thick. A high proportion of mix-ins helps thicken the dough. Blending chocolate chip styles creates a more dynamic flavor. Overnight refrigeration hydrates the flour, again helping the cookies stay thick.

What does cream of tartar do? ›

Cream of tartar stabilizes the tiny bubbles in the egg whites, by precluding the egg proteins from sticking together. It thus speeds up the egg white whipping process and contributes to a stable, billowy, glossy meringue, perfect for cookies, topping pies, and folding into cake.

What is Snoop Dogg cookies? ›

Snoop Dogg's peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe - His original cookie features creamy peanut butter and semisweet chocolate morsels, making it the perfect indulgence this holiday season. #

What is Alabama State cookie? ›

A yellowhammer cookie is a type of stuffed drop cookie containing peanuts, pecans, oats, honey and peanut butter. Invented for a school baking competition, it became the official state cookie of Alabama later that year. The recipe includes locally relevant ingredients and is named after Alabama's state bird.

What is a Dillon cookie? ›

Dillon Cookies

This flagship cookie combines freshly milled whole wheat with oats, loads of chocolate chips and just the right amount of walnuts for a buttery finish. They are the perfect treat for kids and adults alike!

What does brown sugar do in cookies? ›

Brown sugar, meanwhile, is dense and compacts easily, creating fewer air pockets during creaming—that means that there's less opportunity to entrap gas, creating cookies that rise less and spread more. With less moisture escaping via steam, they also stay moist and chewy.

What is the secret to chewy cookies? ›

Cornstarch helps product soft and thick cookies. Using more brown sugar than white sugar results in a moister, softer cookie. An extra egg yolk increases chewiness. Rolling the cookie dough balls to be tall and lumpy instead of wide and smooth gives the cookies a bakery-style textured thickness.

What is the secret to making cookies soft? ›

Cornstarch Is The Secret To Soft And Chewy Cookies.

Can I freeze walnuts? ›

HOW TO STORE WALNUTS. If you buy walnuts in sealed packaging, you can store the walnuts in their original packaging in the refrigerator or freezer. Once you open the bag, transfer the walnuts to an airtight container to maintain freshness and then place them back in the refrigerator or freezer.

Can you freeze whole walnuts? ›

Whole raw nuts can be stored in the freezer for up to one year. Chopped nuts, ground nuts, or nut flours — all of which contain more surface area for oxidation — are quicker to spoil and should only be stored for up to six months.

How many walnuts can you eat a day? ›

For a healthy heart, you should eat about seven walnuts a day, or about how many are in a serving.

What happens if we eat 1 walnut daily? ›

Eating walnuts daily may help to reduce inflammation and keep free radicals at bay, which can otherwise damage cells and may lead to Alzheimer's disease and dementia over time.

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