Butter Balls

Lainey6605's Note:

There are similar versions to this cookie, but I truly think that if you make mine like directed, you will find that these are the best. They will melt in your mouth. This has been a recipe used in my family since I was a little girl. We always made them for Christmas and weddings, but they are good anytime. The key is to use butter and make sure you grind the nuts very fine. I use my Kitchen Aid grinder attachment, but you can also use a food processor. Other versions use just chopped nuts, but I think when they are finely ground that makes the difference. Another important step is to bake them at 250 degrees for 45 minutes. Again, the other versions don't do this, but I stick with my recipe and am never disappointed. The extra time is worth it! This recipe will probably make 100 balls, depending on how large you make the cookies. The baking time listed is just an estimate. It will vary depending on how many cookies you make and how many you put on a cookie sheet. You can fit quite a bit on a cookie sheet because they really don't spread much.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Yield: 100 cookies

• 1 lb butter, softened, no substitutes
• 4 cups walnuts or 4 cups pecans, very finely ground
• 8 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons vanilla
• 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
• 4 cups flour
• powdered sugar

Directions:

1. Grind walnuts very fine. Set aside.
2. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Add vanilla.
4. Add flour and nuts alternately. You may have to mix by using your hands to really get it all mixed together well.
5. Roll into small balls, approximately 1-inch.
6. Place on cookie sheet, ungreased. You can usually fit a lot of cookies on the cookie sheet because they do not spread that much.
7. Bake at 250 degrees for 45 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, have a bowl of powdered sugar ready for when the cookies come out of the oven.
9. When cookies are brought out of the oven, allow to cool for maybe a minute until you can pick them up without breaking them. Roll in powdered sugar and place them on wax paper. Cool.
10. I also like to roll them in powdered sugar a second time when they are completely cool.

Reviews

[Adria82]

Thanks for the recipe, Lainey, but I think it calls for too much flour and nuts. I actually stopped at 3 cups. My grandmother's recipe called for half the flour and half the nuts and they had a much better flavor. I prefer a richer, buttery taste because, afterall, they are called butter balls.

[Sharon123]

Yummy and delicious! Love these cookies! Thanks.

[Marie Nixon]

I halved the recipe and got 49 cookies. I added a large pinch of salt to the ingredients but otherwise followed the directions exactly.