Butter-Nut Drops

Submitted by mianbao

"This is from a cookbook issued by the Culinary Arts Institute in 1949, that my mother used as a young bride. I especially thought these cookies were good, though they do take some time. If you can't find Brazil nuts, you could substitute some other variety. Cooking time is for one batch."

 

• Ready In: 1hr 10mins
• Ingredients: 11
• Yields: 40 cookies

ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup butter
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1 egg, separated
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 tablespoons grated orange zest
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon, zest of
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cup flour, sifted
• 1⁄2 cup brazil nut, chopped
• 20 candied cherries

directions

1. Cream butter and sugar well.
2. Add egg yolk, vanilla, orange and lemon zest and salt; beat well.
3. Stir in lemon juice and flour.
4. Cover and chill 3 or more hours.
5. Preheat oven to 350F.
6. Roll dough into 40 small balls of about 1/2 rounded teaspoon each.
7. Dip balls into the slightly beaten egg white, then roll in the chopped nuts.
8. Place 1 inch apart on a greased cookie sheet, and press 1/2 candied cherry on top of each.
9. Bake 25 minutes.

Reviews

[Boomette]

Wonderful flavor of citrus. I rolled them in chopped walnuts. And used orange cherries. The taste is so good with the citrus/walnuts/cherry. Thanks Mianbao :) Made for your win in Bargain Basement tag game

 

[pj lin]

After i've made some different kind of "brazil nut" cookies, I have to say I love the combination of cinnamon and bazil nut more than of citris(lemon or orange) and brazil nuts.

 

[Kittencalrecipezazz]

Mainbao, these cookies are so good! and very habit forming I may add. I subbed the Brazil nuts for very finely chopped walnuts. I actually made up the dough last evening and baked them this morning. I didn't get 40 cookies, I only got 30 something, I must have rolled them a bit too large, anyway they are truly delicious! thank you for sharing this wonderful cookie recipe!....Kittencal:)

 

[Mrs Beeton wannabe]

Wow. That's what it tastes like! The citrus angle is very unusual and adds to the flavour. I used castor sugar as I find it easier to cream and used pecan nuts. I also 'experimented' with a handful by putting the nut inside the dough, and then rolling it in melted choc. It was lovely however those cooked slightly faster than the others. Thank you for an excellent recipe which I will always make.