italian nut rolls/cookies

Name: Italian Nut Rolls/Cookies
Prep time: 23 h
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 4 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour; 3 teaspoon(s) baking powder; 1/2 pint(s) sour cream; 4 large egg yolks; 1 pound(s) butter or margarine (4 sticks); 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) granulated sugar; ## FILLING; 3/4 pound(s) walnuts, ground fine; 1 cup(s) granulated sugar; 3 large eggs whites, divided; 1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract; 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) honey; ## FOR ROLLING; - powdered sugar to mix with flour for rolling dough and for rolling finished cookie

(3 RATINGS)

821 Pinches 14 Photos

Elizabeth Fletcher

Glen Burnie, MD

Updated on Nov 3, 2025

My mother got this recipe from a coworker many years ago. It takes a little time to make, but OMG, awesome. This is my husband's favorite cookie!

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Blue Ribbon Recipe

Like most Italian cookies, these nut roll cookies are made with love. They take time to prepare. Once baked, they remind us of smaller pecan tassies with walnuts. The dough is like a pastry and not sweet. It's the perfect complement to the sweet nut filling. Dusting these Italian nut rolls with powdered sugar makes them festive for the holiday season. The recipe makes a lot of cookies, so they're great for a crowd.

— The Test Kitchen

prep time 23 Hr

cook time 15 Min

method Bake

yield 6 dozen

Ingredients

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 pint sour cream
4 large egg yolks
1 pound butter or margarine (4 sticks)
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
FILLING
3/4 pound walnuts, ground fine
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs whites, divided
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons honey
FOR ROLLING
- powdered sugar to mix with flour for rolling dough and for rolling finished cookie

How To Make italian nut rolls/cookies

Test Kitchen Tips

Save the egg white you don't put in the filling to brush the cookies the next day. Make sure to roll the dough thin, almost like a pie dough, and seal it well so they don't pop open in the baking process.

Step 1

Make the dough the night before baking. Beat egg yolks. Cream butter and sugar. Add beaten yolks.

Step 2

Add the rest of the dough ingredients.
Step 3

Refrigerate overnight.
Step 4

Make filling the night before baking. Beat 2 egg whites. Add vanilla and honey. Mix well.
Step 5

In a separate bowl, mix the ground walnuts and sugar.
Step 6

Stir together the egg white mixture with the nut mixture. Refrigerate overnight.
Step 7

The next day, preheat the oven to 375 F. Roll the dough in flour with mixed powdered sugar.
Step 8

Make 3-inch squares.
Step 9

Put 1/2 tsp filling in the center of the square. Fold up 2 opposite corners.
Step 10

Brush with the remaining egg white.
Step 11

Roll in powdered sugar.
Step 12

Bake on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet for 12-15 minutes. Check after 12 minutes - don't overcook. After the cookies are cooled, roll in powdered sugar again.
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Nutrition Facts

(per serving*)

calories: 127kcal, carbohydrates: 10g, cholesterol: 12mg, fat: 9g, fiber: 1g, protein: 2g, saturated fat: 2g, sodium: 81mg, sugar: 3g, unsaturated fat: 7g

*Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is estimated.

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