Russian Tea Cakes

Miss Erin's Note:

These are the cookies that must be made at Christmas at my house. If these are the only cookies made, so be it, but they must be made.

• Total Time: 1 hrs
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 6 dozen

• 1 cup butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 cups pecans , chopped
• ½ cup sugar
• powdered sugar , for rolling

Directions:

1. Cream butter and sugar, add remaining ingredients, except for powdered sugar.
2. Roll into balls, small, about a"quarter" in diameter.
3. Bake for 5 minutes on 275F, then 20 minutes at 350F degrees.
4. Roll in powdered sugar while still hot, we usually do 2-3 coatings of sugar.

Reviews

[troyh]

These are delicious, one of my favorite cookies of all time. Just had them out our cookie exchange and I can't stop eating them!

[Chef #1146606]

My sis makes another version of these every year for Xmas--she couldn't believe how much simpler the steps are for this one and they turned out better! Husband claims best cookies he's ever had. That's his taste! They ARE really good. I chill them for just a few minutes to make sure they don't spread --SOFTEN the butter--don't melt it, that's why they spread !! Also, if you don't have 2 full cups of nuts they will still taste great. This last batch I made had only 1 cup and I couldn't tell the difference. Lastly, mine crumble if I try to roll while hot, they really need to cool, so I sift the powdered sugar on while they sit on the cookie sheet. Less or more of that is another thing that doesn't seem to ruin them or make them better, just prettier.... GREAT RECIPE! A keeper!!!

[dixiediva]

Wonderful recipe. I made them a couple of weeks before Christmas. My husband and son looked at me like I was crazy when I told them I was making tea cakes, but they sure did eat alot of them. Then my niece tried one and requested the recipe for a get together where she and her mother-in-law make Christmas goodies. She said they "stole the show" and she was on her way to get the ingredients to make some more. I think it is safe to say these merit a 5 star rating!