Cream Cheese-Walnut Cookies
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
- 2 cups (4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 6 ounces cream cheese (not whipped), room temperature
- 1 1/4 cups sugar
- 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups walnut halves, 1 1/2 cups toasted (see page 192) and coarsely chopped; 1 cup finely chopped
- Whisk together flour and salt in a large bowl.
- Put butter and cream cheese in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
- Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
- Mix in sugar and vanilla.
- Reduce speed to low.
- Add flour mixture, and mix until just combined (do not overmix).
- Mix in toasted walnuts.
- Transfer dough to a work surface.
- Divide in half; shape each half into an 8 1/2-inch-long log about 2 inches in diameter.
- Wrap each log in parchment paper; freeze until firm, about 30 minutes or up to 2 weeks.
- Preheat oven to 350F with racks in upper and lower thirds.
- Unwrap one log, and roll in 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, coating completely.
- Cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds.
- Space 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
- Bake cookies, rotating halfway through, until golden around edges, 18 to 20 minutes.
- Let cool on sheets on wire racks.
- Repeat with remaining log and remaining 1/2 cup chopped walnuts.
- Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 3 days.
allpurpose, coarse salt, unsalted butter, cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, walnut halves
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/cream-cheese-walnut-cookies-389347 (may not work)