Grandma’s Walnut-Butter Snowballs

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Anyone who knows me, knows that Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  The great food, the treats, the decorations, the shopping, and of course the looks on the children’s faces looking at all the Christmas ornaments and Santa.  My favorite was the Christmas decorations, our Christmas tree, and all the wonderful baked goods that mom and my grandmothers would make.  I don’t know how we didn’t all end up 500 pounds eating all these goodies. 

My mom and grandmothers always made the best pies, cakes and cookies.  I loved their fudge, the caramels that was always made from great grandma Blanche’s recipe, and the multitude of cookies.  To this day, my favorite treats are cookies.  Year round I love cookies and these are simple yet one of the most tasty 1 or 2 bite cookies you can make.  I have a problem making these…I end up eating more between the first and second dusting of powdered sugar than I should.

Grandma Jean would make these butter cookies with walnuts crushed up in them.  She then rolled them in powdered sugar.  They were a perfect compliment to all the cookies with rich icing and the sweet and gooey candies. 

The picture above is one of my favorite pictures of grandma Jean.   She told me it was her high school senior pictures.  I think she was as beautiful then, as she was till the day we lost her.  She always had so much love for everyone, and none of her grandchildren ever felt more or less loved than one of the others.  She was always in her kitchen and made sure we all had plenty to eat.  This lady, my grandmother, was amazing.  I miss her so much.  Making her recipes makes me feel close to her.  I’m sure y’all feel the same about your grandma’s too.  Aren’t they the best?!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar plus more for rolling
• 2 Tbsp. heavy cream
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup cake flour
• 1 cup finely-chopped walnuts
• 3/4 cup rolled oats

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. With an electric mixer, beat butter, 3/4 cup of powdered sugar, cream and vanilla together 3-4 minutes, until fluffy.
3. Add flours, walnuts and oats on low speed until combined.
4. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 15-19 minutes until golden on the bottom.
5. Cool 5 minutes. Roll in powdered sugar. Cool completely. Roll in powdered sugar again.