Starting Right: Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This ensures easy release of cookies and no sticky messes!
Buttery Blend: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the soft unsalted butter and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. Beat until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. This is the secret to our cookie’s dreamy texture!
Flouring Flourish: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the butter mixture. Mix until just combined. The dough might seem crumbly, but that’s perfectly fine!
Nutty Nuances: Fold in the finely chopped walnuts. This adds a beautiful crunch and nutty undernote to our cookies.
Vanilla Voyage: Stir in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt, mixing until everything is beautifully incorporated.
Shaping Stars: Roll the dough into 1-inch balls and place them on the prepared baking sheet. These will expand a little, so ensure there’s some space between them.
Baking Bliss: Slide your tray into the preheated oven and bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden. The tops will remain pale, and that’s exactly what we want!
Snowy Finale: Once baked, let the cookies cool slightly. While they’re still warm, roll them gently in the additional powdered sugar. This gives our Butternut Cookies their iconic snow-kissed appearance!
Cool & Enjoy: Allow them to cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, feel free to roll them in powdered sugar one more time for an extra snowy touch. Enjoy with a cup of tea, coffee, or a glass of milk!
