Gluten Free Snowball Walnut Cookies
These walnut cookies are soft, nutty, and perfectly spiced thanks to California walnuts, prune purée, orange zest and a splash of Nocino. With their powdered sugar finish, they’re as gorgeous as they are delicious. Bite into one of these walnut wonders, and I promise you’ll taste the best of California in every crumb.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 cups California walnut pieces raw
- ½ cup dark brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 teaspoon orange zest optional
- 4 tablespoons walnut or almond flour
- 2 tablespoons prune purée see notes below
- 3 tablespoons Nocino or booze of your choice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pinch sea salt
- Powdered sugar for coating optional but recommended
Instructions
Process Walnuts:
- In a food processor, pulse the walnuts, brown sugar, lemon zest, and sea salt until the mixture resembles wet sand.
Mix Wet Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the prune purée, Nocino, and vanilla. Add the walnut mixture and mix with a spatula until combined. Sprinkle in the walnut or almond flour and mix until a dough forms. Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Preheat Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Shape Cookies:
- Scoop a tablespoon of dough, roll it into a ball, and coat lightly in powdered sugar. Place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies about 2 inches apart.
Bake:
- Bake for 13 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the cookies sit inside for 2 additional minutes to help brown the bottoms. Remove and transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Serve & Enjoy:
- Dust with more powdered sugar if desired, and enjoy with coffee, tea, or—because it’s California—a small glass of Nocino.
Video
Notes
Pro Tip: These cookies freeze beautifully, so make a double batch to keep some on hand for holiday emergencies (aka unexpected guests or late-night cravings).
How to make prune puree:
- 16 ounces of prunes
- 1/2 cup hot water
Nutrition
Serving: 2cookiesCalories: 128kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 3gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 3mgPotassium: 80mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 13IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 21mgIron: 1mg
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