Festive Treats: Noel Nut Balls Recipe. Ensure your holiday cookie tin is brimming with delights by including the irresistible Noel Nut Balls—a decadent blend of nuts and butter formed into delightful domes, then delicately rolled in confectioners’ sugar to mimic miniature snowballs. In Martha’s family tradition, these delectable treats boast an extra layer of flavor, courtesy of a touch of bourbon (or orange juice) infused into the cookie dough.
These rich and flavorful gems not only bring a taste of tradition but also add a touch of festive elegance to your holiday treats. As you share these Noel Nut Balls with family and friends, you’ll be spreading the joy of the season, one delicious bite at a time.
Prepare a Batch of Pecan Shortbread Cookies with the Following Ingredients:
Ingredients:.
2 ¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour, sifted.
¾ cup finely chopped pecans (preferably chopped by hand).
½ cup sifted confectioners’ sugar, plus extra for rolling.
¼ teaspoon kosher salt.
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature.
2 tablespoons honey.
1 teaspoon bourbon or fresh orange juice.
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Whisk Dry Ingredients:.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sifted flour, finely chopped pecans, confectioners’ sugar, and kosher salt.
Ensure the dry ingredients are well combined.
Cream Butter and Honey:.
Using an electric mixer set to medium-high speed, beat the room temperature unsalted butter and honey together until the mixture becomes fluffy.
This usually takes about 3 minutes.
Incorporate Bourbon or Orange Juice:.
Mix in the bourbon or fresh orange juice just enough to combine it with the butter and honey mixture.
This adds a hint of flavor to the dough.
Add Dry Ingredients:.
Gradually add the prepared flour mixture to the butter mixture.
Beat the ingredients just until they come together. Avoid overmixing; the goal is to combine the ingredients thoroughly.
Wrap and Chill:.
Turn the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap.
Wrap the dough tightly, ensuring it is well covered. Place the wrapped dough in the refrigerator to chill for a minimum of 3 hours.
This chilling period allows the dough to firm up, making it easier to handle and enhancing the flavor.
Following these steps sets the foundation for the pecan shortbread cookies, creating a dough that blends the richness of butter, the sweetness of honey, and the nuttiness of pecans.
Chilling the dough allows it to develop its texture and flavors before being shaped and baked.
Step 2: Bake and Coat the Pecan Shortbread Cookies
Preheat the Oven:.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 175 degrees Celsius).
Shape the Dough into Balls:.
Take the chilled dough and, using approximately 2 teaspoons of dough at a time, roll it into small balls.
Ensure they are uniform in size for even baking.
Arrange on Baking Sheets:.
Place the shaped dough balls 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets.
This allows enough space for the cookies to spread while baking.
Bake Until Golden:.
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven until they are golden brown around the edges.
This typically takes about 12 minutes, but keep an eye on them as baking times may vary.
Transfer and Cool:.
Once baked, transfer the cookies from the baking sheets to wire racks.
Allow them to cool completely before proceeding to the next step.
Coat with Confectioners’ Sugar:.
Roll the cooled cookies in confectioners’ sugar to coat them.
This step adds a sweet and powdery finish to the cookies.
Store the Cookies:.
Store the coated pecan shortbread cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
They can be kept for up to 1 week, allowing you to enjoy these delightful treats over time.
By following these final steps, you complete the baking process, resulting in golden-brown pecan shortbread cookies with a sweet confectioners’ sugar coating.
These cookies are now ready to be enjoyed as a delightful treat for any occasion or shared with family and friends.
*The information is for reference only.