My Walnut Cookies recipe requires only 4 basic ingredients, and is ready in just 25 minutes. The dough is soft and easy to shape by hand and turns lightly golden around the edges as they bake. The texture is slightly crisp on the outside and soft in the middle, with plenty of walnut flavour in every bite.
These extremely addictive cookies have a rich, sweet, and nutty flavor, and go perfectly with a cup of Turkish Coffee or a glass of Turkish Tea - Çay. They keep well for a few days, so you can make a batch and enjoy them throughout the week.
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These scrumptious no-egg walnut cookies are perfect for days when you want to bake something homemade without spending hours in the kitchen.
What Are Walnut Cookies?
Walnut cookies are simple butter cookies made with ground or finely chopped walnuts, flour, sugar, and butter. They are soft, slightly crumbly, and full of walnut flavour.
This version is made without eggs to keep the texture light and a bit more delicate. Using icing sugar instead of regular sugar also gives them a softer finish.
Why This Recipe Works?
- With only four ingredients, this cookie recipe is as straightforward as it gets. You don’t need any fancy equipment or ingredients.
- No eggs needed, but still soft and tender.
- They are perfect for various occasions, be it a casual family gathering or a more formal event.
- They pair wonderfully with coffee or tea and are great for gifting.
- Easy to shape by hand, no special equipment needed.
- This is a great recipe to get your kids or grandkids involved in.
Ingredients You'll Need
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.
- Walnuts - Finely chopped walnuts give the cookies their texture and flavour. Lightly toasting them first brings out more depth, but it’s optional.
- Butter - Use softened unsalted butter so it mixes easily into the dough.
- Icing sugar - Keeps the texture soft and slightly crumbly.
- Plain white flour - Also known as all-purpose flour, it is ideal for baking cakes, cookies, pastries, and thickening sauces.
- Vanilla paste - A little vanilla extract or paste adds a subtle flavour.
How to Make Walnut Cookies
Preheat the fan oven to 356° F (180° C).
Line 2 large baking trays with parchment paper, and set them aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour with the softened butter, icing sugar, vanilla, and crushed walnuts.
Gently mix them with your fingertips until combined, and form a nice soft dough.
Take a piece of cookie dough about the size of a walnut and shape it into a ball. Place them on the baking tray and gently press each one down slightly with your fingers. Leave a bit of space between each cookie, as they will spread slightly while baking.
Repeat this process until you use up all the cookie dough. This recipe should yield approximately 44 cookies. Bake the cookies for 15 minutes, or until they are slightly browned on the sides.
Combine a tablespoon of icing sugar with a teaspoon of cinnamon, and dust this mixture over the cookies while they are still warm.
Recipe Tips From the Chef
- Use high-quality, fresh walnuts for the best flavor. Toasting the walnuts lightly before adding them to the dough can enhance their nutty taste.
- If you need to soften butter quickly and forgot to leave it out at room temperature, there's a speedy solution! Heat a large glass jar by filling it with boiling water. Once the jar is warm, empty the water and cover the butter with the jar for a few minutes. This will soften the butter efficiently.
- Cookie recipes often require precision, and using a kitchen scale to measure ingredients by weight is the most reliable method for achieving perfect outcomes.
- If time allows, chill the dough in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before baking. This helps the cookies maintain their shape and enhances the flavors.
- Mix the dough just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
- Leave enough space between each cookie on the baking sheet as they will spread a bit while baking.
- Keep an eye on the cookies as they bake. They should be just golden around the edges. Overbaking can make them too hard.
Freezing Walnut Cookie Dough
After preparing the cookie dough, shape it according to the instructions as if you were going to bake the cookies. Arrange them on a baking sheet and place them in the freezer. Once the cookies are completely solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or zip bag.
When you're ready to bake, place the number of cookies you need on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven for 16-17 minutes, or until they are lightly browned on the sides.
Variations You Can Try
If you want to change things slightly, there are a few easy ways to do it without changing the base recipe too much.
You can swap the walnuts for pecans, pistachios, or almonds. Each one gives a slightly different flavour and texture.
A small handful of chocolate chips can be mixed into the dough if you want something a bit sweeter.
Adding a pinch of cardamom or cloves gives a warmer flavour, especially in colder months.
How to Serve Walnut Cookies
These cookies are best served slightly warm or at room temperature.
They go really well with coffee, tea, and even better with a cup of Salep - Turkish Hot Milk Drink. You can also serve them alongside other small bakes such as Chocolate Strawberry Tartlets, Un Kurabiyesi - Turkish Flour Cookies, and Chocolate Covered Oreos if you’re putting together a simple dessert table.
How to Store the Leftovers
You can store these egg-free walnut cookies in a cookie jar or a sealed container for up to 5 days at room temperature. If you want to keep them longer, you can refrigerate them for up to a week in a sealed container.
Alternatively, you can freeze the leftover baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 6 months.
Recipe FAQs
Chilling the dough is not always necessary, but it can help the cookies hold their shape better and enhance the flavors.
The most accurate way is to use a kitchen scale. If using measuring cups, spoon the flour into the cup and level it off with a knife, avoiding packing the flour.
While butter provides the best flavor and texture, margarine can be used as a substitute. Using oil may change the texture of the cookies significantly.
Overmixing the dough or overbaking the cookies can result in hard cookies. It’s important to mix just until the ingredients are combined and to keep a close eye on the baking time.
Related Recipes
For more scrumptious cookie recipes, why not try:
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.
I hope you enjoy the process of making these scrumptiously nutty and crunchy 4-ingredient Walnut Cookies as much as you enjoy eating them! 🙂
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Walnut Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 sticks butter (softened at room temperature) (250 grams)
- 1 cup crushed walnuts (100 grams)
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour (350 grams)
- ¾ cup powdered sugar (100 grams)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or extract
- cinnamon powder and icing sugar (for dusting)
Instructions
- Preheat the fan oven to 356° F (180° C).
- Line 2 large baking trays with parchment paper, and set them aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour with the softened butter, icing sugar, vanilla, and crushed walnuts.
- Gently mix them with your fingertips until combined, and form a nice soft dough.
- Take a piece of cookie dough about the size of a walnut, approximately 20 grams, and shape it into a ball.
- Gently press on the cookie ball to flatten it and place it on a baking tray.
- Repeat this process until you use up all the cookie dough. This recipe should yield approximately 44 cookies.
- Bake the cookies for 15 minutes, or until they are slightly browned on the sides.
- Combine a tablespoon of icing sugar with a teaspoon of cinnamon, and dust this mixture over the cookies while they are still warm.
Video
Notes
- Use high-quality, fresh walnuts for the best flavor. Toasting the walnuts lightly before adding them to the dough can enhance their nutty taste.
- If you need to soften butter quickly and forgot to leave it out at room temperature, there's a speedy solution! Heat a large glass jar by filling it with boiling water. Once the jar is warm, empty the water and cover the butter with the jar for a few minutes. This will soften the butter efficiently.
- Cookie recipes often require precision, and using a kitchen scale to measure ingredients by weight is the most reliable method for achieving perfect outcomes.
- If time allows, chill the dough in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before baking. This helps the cookies maintain their shape and enhances the flavors.
- Mix the dough just until the ingredients are combined. Overmixing can lead to tough cookies.
- Leave enough space between each cookie on the baking sheet, as they will spread a bit while baking.
- Keep an eye on the cookies as they bake. They should be just golden around the edges. Overbaking can make them too hard.
C says
Could you please check recipe ingredient amounts. And there is no vanilla in instructions.
Help please.
Ayla Clulee says
Hi C,
The ingredient amounts with exact measurements are in the recipe card. The vanilla is added along with the rest of the ingredients, and is optional.
Let me know if you need more help!
Best Wishes
Ayla
Aileen Lewis says
It was so simple to make, and they turned out perfectly! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Ayla Clulee says
Hi Aileen
My pleasure! Thank you for the lovely comment.
Best wishes
Ayla