These traditional Polish walnut-shaped cookies, or ciasteczka orzeszki (chahss-TETCH-kah aw-ZHESH-kee), are made in molds and then sandwiched together with creamy fillings. There are individual walnut-shaped molds for the oven and there are some that resemble a waffle iron and are baked on top of the stove, and yet other styles exist.
What remains the same is a delectable filling either made of cream or chocolate or a combination of the two and usually mixed with finely ground walnuts. The cookies are a bit time-consuming but worth it. Store the walnut "shells" and fill at the last minute for best flavor.
This recipe can be doubled if desired.
Ingredients
Dough:
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4 ounces (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
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1/8 teaspoon salt
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1/3 cup sugar
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1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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1 large egg, room temperature
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1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
Filling #1:
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1 teaspoon cocoa
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1 teaspoon dark rum
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1 cup apricot jam
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3/4 cup walnuts, ground, not chopped
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1 tablespoon milk
Filling #2:
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4 ounces (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
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3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
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1 shot vodka
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7 ounces walnuts, ground, not chopped
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Milk, as needed, to make a moist filling
Steps to Make It
To Make the Dough:
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Gather the ingredients.
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In a large bowl, beat together unsalted butter, salt, sugar, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and large egg. Add all-purpose flour and mix until well combined. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
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Preheat oven to 375 F. Do not grease walnut molds. Press 1/2 teaspoon dough into the bottom and up the sides of the molds. (Dip the finger you use to press the dough into the mold in flour to prevent sticking.)
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Place filled molds on a baking sheet and bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are brown around the edges of the molds. Cool a few seconds and then tap them out of the molds. Repeat until all the dough is gone.
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It's a good idea to store the "shells" in an airtight container until ready to serve and then fill at the last minute, otherwise, they could become soggy.
To Make the Fillings:
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Gather the ingredients depending on which filling you decide to make.
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For both fillings, in separate bowls, mix all the ingredients together, or use preserves or prepared almond paste or nut fillings. Spread 1 teaspoon filling on half of the walnut-shaped cookies and top with a second cookie. Dust with confectioners' sugar, if desired.
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Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
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474 | Calories |
31g | Fat |
45g | Carbs |
6g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
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Servings: 12 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 474 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 31g | 40% |
Saturated Fat 11g | 56% |
Cholesterol 57mg | 19% |
Sodium 44mg | 2% |
Total Carbohydrate 45g | 17% |
Dietary Fiber 2g | 7% |
Total Sugars 27g | |
Protein 6g | |
Vitamin C 3mg | 13% |
Calcium 45mg | 3% |
Iron 2mg | 9% |
Potassium 156mg | 3% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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