Toasted Pine Nut Cookies Recipes

TOASTED PINE NUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Spread pine nuts in a wide frying pan and toast, shaking frequently, over moderate heat. As soon as they are golden brown -- less than 2 minutes -- pour them onto a plate to cool, then put them in the refrigerator or freezer to chill.
• With two oven racks, divide the oven into thirds. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line two cookie sheets with baking parchment.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the butter, honey, sugar, salt and liquor. On low speed, beat in the flour; then, working quickly, the chilled pine nuts.
• Using two teaspoons, make 24 equal pieces, picking up a bit of dough with one spoon and pushing it off onto the lined tray with the other. Chill in the freezer for about 5 minutes, then roll the mounds into balls with your hands, flattening them slightly. Place 1-inch apart on the sheets.
• To decorate and flatten more, dip a fork into cold water and use the back of the tines to press the cookies (in one direction only) until they are about 1/2 inch thick. Wet the fork for each cookie.
• Bake on the upper and lower levels of the oven, reversing the sheets top to bottom and front to back once during baking. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until cookies are lightly colored and crisp. Transfer to racks, and let cool completely. Store in an airtight tin.

TAHINI COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Pulse 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts, 1/3 cup powdered sugar, 1/3 cup tahini, 1/4 cup room temperature unsalted butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor until dough forms a ball around blade.
• Mix 2 tablespoons black sesame seeds and 2 tablespoons demerara sugar in a small bowl. Form dough into 1" balls and roll in sesame seed mixture. Place on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet, spacing 2" apart, and flatten slightly. Bake cookies until lightly golden, 20-25 minutes.

CORNMEAL PINE NUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Using a stand mixer, food processor or a large bowl and handheld mixer, cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in lemon zest, almond extract, whole egg and egg yolks until well incorporated.
• In a medium bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt.
• Add flour mixture to butter mixture to combine, then fold in pine nuts and mix thoroughly, taking care not to overwork the dough. (The dough will be rather soft and sticky.)
• Divide dough in two, and, using plastic wrap, form each half into a log about 1 inch in diameter. Refrigerate for 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Slice cold dough into 1/2-inch pieces. (Each slice should weigh ½ ounce/15 grams.) Place slices on a parchment-lined baking sheet 2 inches apart. Press 2 or 3 pine nuts into the surface of each slice. Bake 13 to 15 minutes, until barely browned. Dust lightly with powdered sugar.