I remember my mother would begin to bake Christmas cookies the day after Thanksgiving. She would fill shoeboxes with tissue paper, then fill the shoeboxes with her assortment of Italian cookies (to fiercely compete with her sisters!). I loved to sneak frozen butterhorns for a snack and she always made plenty!

   Butterhorn Cookies

I am a terrible baker! I've always strugglee with math & measuring ingredients is confusing for me. If I'm doubling or 'halving' a recipe it's usually a disaster!

But as I get older, I'm learning to take the time to actually rewrite the ingredient amounts neatly when I double a recipe and especially not to multi task while baking...  I'm beginning to enjoy the whole process.


I'm not sure baking is as fun as cooking for me yet, maybe a little too disciplined but I do enjoy when the brownies and cookies and cakes are delicious.

Making Butterhorn Cookies

Prep Time: 60 min

Cooking Time: 20 min

Yield: 4 portions


Ingredients                                          

1  C              Butter, room temperature   

2 C              AP Flour, sifted     

1 C               Sour cream                      

1 ea.           Egg yolk       


Filling

2 Tbsp.     Cinnamon

1 C               Walnuts, toasted and peeled (in a clean side towel); chopped

1 C               Sugar                                  

 

How to Prepare Butterhorn cookies


Step 1  Making the butterhorn dough

Place the butter, flour and sour cream into the mixing bowl. Using the paddle, blend to a coarse mixture. It will resemble a pie dough, it's important to keep the dough cold but the butter should be very small.


Add the egg yolk, incorporate gently to avoid developing gluten  (a chewy dough). Let the dough rest, covered for 30 minutes.



Step 2  Rolling out and cutting

Roll the dough into 4 even balls. Flatten with a rolling pin into a disk and let rest for 10 minutes. If the kitchen is warm, place in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.




To toast walnuts, place onto a sheet pan, toast and then place into a clean towel. Rub vigorously to loosen the skins. Separate the nuts away from the skin; discard the skin.






While the dough is resting, mix the chopped, toasted walnuts, cinnamon and sugar together in a bowl, reserve.




Roll the disk to 1/8th inch thick circle; cut into 8 wedges like cutting a pizza pie. You'll need to keep the surface lightly floured to avoid sticking and be sure the dough is cool.


It's not a problem if the edges are a little uneven, when you roll inwards the edges are no longer seen.

When the disks are cut, sprinkle with the sugar-walnut blend.

Roll the disks firmly from the wider, outside of the circle,  into the center, making a croissant shape.

Step 3 Baking



Curl slightly and place on a sheet pan with parchment.


Bake at 350° F for about 20 minutes until nicely browned and tender.

Enjoy

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