Cookies With Alice
The tradition passed down and refined over the course of what probably amounts to thousands of hand-rolled cookies keeps the memory of Grandma close in a way no ordinary gift ever could, in the absence of her signature cloud of cigarette smoke and throaty giggle.
In the hopes of passing on–or helping to start–a memory-filled tradition for your family, make a few batches of these delicious cookies along with someone special.
Grandma Alice’s Mexican Wedding Cakes
Makes approximately 4 dozen cookies
1 c. butter, softened
½ c. powdered sugar plus extra for rolling hot cookies
1 tsp. vanilla or almond flavoring
2¼ c. flour
¾ c. finely chopped nuts (preferably black walnuts, lightly toasted)
¼ tsp. salt
Heat oven to 400F. In a large bowl, mix butter, powdered sugar and vanilla/almond flavoring until well combined. Stir in flower, nuts and salt until dough pulls together.
Roll dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls about an inch apart on a cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes until set and barely browned.
Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack and allow to cool no more than 3 minutes or until balls are firm enough to pick up but still warm. In a bowl with the additional powdered sugar, roll each cookie until covered and return to rack to cool completely. Once cooled, roll a second time in powdered sugar and share.
Beth Morrow is an educator, camp program director and avid baker who loves using the holidays as an excuse to play with sugar in all its forms. Reach her at beth@bethmorrow.com.
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Loved this article! Thanks for the recipe too! These were the only cookies that my Mom made at Christmas. Love them!!!