About

Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
45 mins

Modern Art Desserts
Makes about 80 cookies

Hands-on time: 45 minutes

From start to finish: 6 hours

Note: If nocino is not available, vanilla extract can take its place. The key to creating a nice, spherical cookie is to thoroughly chill the dough before baking. The bottoms will flatten slightly, but the cookies will stay round otherwise.

Do Ahead: Stored in an airtight container, the toasted walnuts can be frozen for up to 
2 months. The cookie dough must be chilled before and after shaping; at either stage, it can be refrigerated, covered tightly with plastic wrap, for up to 5 days. Stored in an airtight container, the baked, unsugared cookies will keep for up to 4 days at room temperature.

Above and Beyond: The Kahlo Wedding Cookies are absolutely delicious on their own, but if you want to capture the details of the Frieda and Diego Rivera painting as we do at the museum, it’s all about the packaging. See Resources on page 205 for ordering the materials to create your own box, craft paper sticker, and custom ribbon, and download templates to make your own bird and sticker stamps from www.bluebottlecoffee.com/MAD.

Posted by Ten Speed Press Published See Ten Speed Press's 31 projects » © 2024 Caitlin Freeman / Ten Speed Press · Reproduced with permission. · Reprinted with permission from Modern Art Desserts, by Caitlin Freeman, copyright (c) 2013.) Photography by Clay McLachlan (c) 2013.
PrintEmbed
  • Step 1

    In a medium, heavy-bottomed skillet, toast the walnuts over medium heat, shaking often, until fragrant and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the walnuts to a bowl or plate and freeze until thoroughly chilled, at least 1 hour or for up to 2 months.

  • Step 2

    Place the frozen walnuts (they’re more easily processed when they’re cold) and 1/4 cup (1 oz / 28 g) of the confectioners’ sugar in a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse sand.

  • Step 3

    Combine the flour and walnut mixture in a medium bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on low speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Sift in the remaining 1/4 cup (1 oz / 28 g) of confectioners’ sugar, add the salt, and mix on low speed until combined. Scrape down the bowl with a rubber spatula, and then beat on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the nocino and beat until incorporated, about 20 seconds. Scrape down the bowl, then add the flour mixture and mix on low speed just until the dough is uniform, about 15 seconds. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to 5 days.

  • Step 4

    Portion the chilled dough into teaspoon-sized (0.25 oz / 7 g) pieces, and then roll each piece into a ball between your hands. Set the balls on a large plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 week.
    Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.

  • Step 5

    Place the chilled balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1 inch apart. Bake, rotating the baking sheets midway through baking, until the cookies are fragrant and lightly golden around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes.

  • Step 6

    Let the cookies cool for a few minutes on the baking sheets, and then use a spatula to transfer them to a wire rack to finish cooling. Once the baking sheets are no longer warm, bake the remaining dough balls and let the cookies cool completely.

    Just before serving, sift about 1/2 cup (2 oz / 57 g) of confectioners’ sugar into a medium bowl. Roll the cooled cookies in the sugar until coated on all sides.

Made this project? Share your version »

Comments

More Projects