Home-Baked Walnut Cookies with Sweetened Condensed Milk Filling
Ingredients for a Touch of Nostalgia:
For the Dough:
- Flour: 370g, sifted for fluffiness
- Cold Butter: 200g, cut into small cubes for rich taste
- Eggs: 2, whisked with a dash of vanilla
- Baking Powder: ¼ tsp, for a delicate rise
- Salt: ½ tsp, to balance the sweetness
- Vanilla Sugar: ½ tsp, for a hint of elegance
For the Creamy Filling:
- Sweetened Condensed Milk (cooked): 380g, for a luscious core
- Butter (room temperature): 100g, whipped into smoothness
Method for a Sweet Reunion with the Past:
- Egg Mixture: Lightly whisk the eggs with vanilla sugar, setting the stage for flavor infusion.
- Dough Formation: In a large bowl, blend the sifted flour with baking powder and salt. Introduce the cold butter cubes to the flour mixture, rubbing them in with your fingers until a crumbly texture emerges.
- Crumb Crafting: Pour the mixture onto a flat surface and use a knife to further integrate the butter into the flour, creating fine crumbs. Make a well in the center and pour in the egg mixture, optionally returning it to the bowl for easier handling.
- Dough Development: Quickly work the dough until cohesive, then wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 1-2 hours, or freeze for 20-30 minutes to ensure a firm, well-blended dough.
- Cookie Shaping: Remove the dough from the cold, shape into small balls roughly the size of a walnut half. Grease your walnut-shaped mold (orechnitsa) with a bit of oil and heat it well. Place the dough balls into the molds, close the mold tightly, and bake over a low flame, ensuring a firm hold at the beginning. Cook until each side is golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.
- Cream Whipping: Beat the room-temperature butter until fluffy. Gradually incorporate the sweetened condensed milk, continuing to beat until the mixture is airy. Cover with cling film and refrigerate for 1-2 hours to set (for a quicker set, a short time in the freezer is fine).
- Assembly: Allow the cookie halves to cool, trim any excess, and generously fill with the creamy mixture.
Indulge Your Senses: Revel in the tender, crumbly cookies filled with a smooth, sweet cream that transports you back to carefree days. Serve these homemade walnut cookies with a cup of tea or coffee and watch as they bring smiles and moments of bliss to your loved ones.
Enjoy your delightful creation, a perfect blend of comforting flavors and textures, sure to become a cherished treat in your home.