Hidden Delight These cookies have a honey-nutty secret inside
These cookies have a delicious secret hidden inside — a crunchy, chewy center of ground mixed nuts and honey. They are insanely good.
The good news is that they also are easy to make.
First, you make a simple dough using flour and hazelnut or almond flour; then form the dough into balls.
You flatten each ball in your hands, then pop a scoop of ground nuts and honey into the center. Then just wrap the sides up over the filling and you're done.
Once the cookies have baked and cooled, a roll in powdered sugar gives them a beautiful holiday feel.
Start to finish: 45 minutesMakes 48 cookies1 cup mixed unsalted nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, pecans and pistachios¼ cup honey1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter½ cup granulated sugar½ teaspoon kosher salt2 teaspoons vanilla extract1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour1¼ cups hazelnut or almond flourPowdered sugar, to finishHeat the oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with kitchen parchment.In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the nuts until finely chopped but not powdered. Stir in the honey to make a sticky but malleable dough of sorts. Set aside.In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, sugar, salt and vanilla until well combined. Stir in both flours.Scoop into 48 equal balls of dough, about 1 rounded teaspoonful of dough each. A number 70 cookie scoop works well for this.Working one at a time, flatten a ball of dough in the palm of your hand, then place 1/2 teaspoonful of the honey-nut mixture in the center. Fold the dough up and around the honey-nut ball to completely enclose it.Repeat with the remaining dough and honey-nut mixture, arranging them on the prepared baking sheets as you go. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly golden brown around the edges. Allow to cool on the pans.Roll the cooled cookies in powdered sugar, then store in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 week. Roll in powdered sugar again, if desired, just before serving.
