Ah! Hungarian Christmas Walnut Cookies (Diós Karácsonyi Sütemények) — delicate, buttery cookies filled with a sweet walnut filling, perfect for holiday baking 🎄🌰. Here’s a traditional recipe:
🌰 Hungarian Walnut Cookies
Ingredients (makes ~30–40 cookies)
For the dough:
- 2¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
For the walnut filling:
- 1 cup ground walnuts
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk (or cream)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: ½ tsp cinnamon or lemon zest for extra flavor
For decoration (optional):
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Melted chocolate for drizzling
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the dough
- In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Gradually mix in flour and salt until a smooth dough forms.
- Wrap dough in plastic and chill 30–60 minutes.
Step 2: Make the filling
- In a small bowl, combine ground walnuts, sugar, milk, vanilla, and optional cinnamon or zest. Stir until smooth and spreadable.
Step 3: Shape the cookies
- Preheat oven to 350°F / 175°C.
- Roll dough into small balls (about 1 inch).
- Flatten slightly and place a small amount of walnut filling in the center.
- Fold dough over filling to enclose it and shape into a ball or crescent.
- Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Step 4: Bake
- Bake 12–15 minutes, until lightly golden at the edges.
- Cool completely on a wire rack.
Step 5: Optional finishing touches
- Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted chocolate once cooled.
Tips
- Ground walnuts should be finely ground for a smooth filling.
- Can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container for 1–2 weeks.
- For extra authenticity, brush cookies lightly with simple syrup before dusting with powdered sugar for a glossier finish.
If you want, I can also give a “rolled log” Hungarian walnut cookie version that’s sliced into neat uniform cookies — traditional in many Hungarian households.
Do you want me to do that?
