Italian Nut Roll Cookies Recipe
Cozy Italian Nut Roll Cookies are buttery, tender cookies filled with a sweet and spiced nut mixture. Perfectly rolled and sliced, these cookies deliver a delightful texture and rich flavor from walnuts or pecans combined with cinnamon and brown sugar. Ideal for holiday baking or any cozy occasion, they feature a soft dough enhanced with sour cream and vanilla, baked to golden perfection.
- Author: Clara
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Yield: About 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
For the Dough:
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- 1 cup walnuts or pecans, finely chopped
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Prepare the Dough: Cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl using a hand or stand mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, fully mixing each before adding the next. Stir in sour cream and vanilla extract to combine.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually fold this dry mixture into the wet ingredients until a soft dough forms that is smooth and no longer sticky. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour to firm up.
- Make the Filling: While the dough chills, mix finely chopped walnuts or pecans with brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl until well combined.
- Roll Out the Dough: Divide the chilled dough into portions and roll each out on a lightly floured surface into a thin rectangle about ¼ inch thick. Evenly spread the nut filling over the dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Roll and Slice: Roll the dough tightly from one long edge into a log. Slice the log into individual cookies about ¼ to ½ inch thick, allowing for a rustic, slightly uneven appearance.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Arrange the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and fragrant. Watch carefully to avoid overbaking.
- Cool and Serve: Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy once cooled for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to make rolling easier and to help cookies hold their shape.
- Don’t overbake; cookies should be lightly golden to maintain moisture and tenderness.
- Feel free to substitute walnuts or pecans with almonds or hazelnuts for different flavor profiles.
- To make the recipe dairy-free, replace butter with a non-dairy alternative and sour cream with a suitable dairy-free substitute.
- For a lighter texture, substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt.
Keywords: Italian nut roll cookies, walnut cookies, pecan cookies, cinnamon nut cookies, rolled cookies, holiday cookies, buttery cookies