Ah! Hungarian Christmas Walnut Cookies (“Diós Karácsonyi Süti”) are a classic holiday treat—rich, buttery, and filled with a sweet walnut mixture 🌰❄️. Here’s a traditional recipe:
Ingredients (Makes ~30–40 cookies)
For the Dough
- 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
For the Walnut Filling
- 1 cup (100 g) ground walnuts
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2–3 tbsp milk (to bind filling)
- Optional: pinch of cinnamon
Optional Topping
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
1. Make the dough
- In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Add egg yolks and vanilla extract; mix well.
- Gradually add flour and salt, mixing until dough forms.
- Wrap in plastic and chill 30–60 minutes.
2. Prepare the walnut filling
- In a bowl, combine ground walnuts, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon (if using).
- Add milk gradually until filling holds together but isn’t too wet.
3. Shape cookies
- Preheat oven to 350°F / 175°C.
- Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to ~¼ inch thickness.
- Cut into circles or squares, or roll into small balls.
- Place a small amount of walnut filling in the center and fold dough over, sealing edges, or form as desired.
4. Bake
- Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake 12–15 minutes, until lightly golden on edges.
- Let cool completely.
5. Finish
- Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
- Store in an airtight container; cookies can last several days and often taste better after a day as flavors meld.
Tips & Variations
- Extra flavor: Add a splash of rum or brandy to the filling.
- Texture: Toast the walnuts lightly for a deeper, nuttier flavor.
- Shapes: Classic Hungarian cookies are often crescent-shaped, ball-shaped, or rolled.
- Serving: Perfect with tea, coffee, or as part of a festive cookie platter.
If you want, I can give a “gourmet Hungarian Christmas walnut cookies” version with soft, melt-in-your-mouth dough, deeply roasted walnut filling, and a subtle spice mix—essentially the kind of cookie you’d find on a Hungarian holiday table.
Do you want me to do that version?
