Here is a clean, traditional, photo-free recipe for Nut Roll Cookies with Walnut Filling — soft, tender, crescent-shaped or rolled cookies with a sweet, fragrant walnut center. These are similar to Hungarian, Polish, and Eastern European-style nut cookies often made for Christmas.

🌰✨ Nut Roll Cookies (Walnut Filling)

Soft, buttery dough wrapped around a sweet walnut filling, baked until lightly golden, and dusted with powdered sugar. A cozy, old-fashioned holiday treat!

⭐ Ingredients

For the Dough

3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour
1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
½ cup (120 g) cream cheese (softened)
½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
1 egg yolk
¼ cup (50 g) sugar
Pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla sugar

For the Walnut Filling

2 cups (200 g) finely ground walnuts
¾ cup (150 g) sugar
½–⅔ cup (120–150 ml) warm milk (just enough to make a thick paste)
1 tsp vanilla sugar
Optional: zest of 1 lemon or orange
Optional: ¼ tsp cinnamon

For Finishing

Powdered sugar for dusting

🔥 Instructions

1. Make the Dough

In a bowl, whisk flour, salt, and sugar.
Cut in the cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add cream cheese, sour cream, egg yolk, and vanilla.
Mix gently until a soft dough forms — do not overwork.
Wrap and chill at least 1 hour (or overnight).

2. Prepare the Walnut Filling

Combine ground walnuts, sugar, vanilla sugar, and optional zest/cinnamon.
Add warm milk gradually, just until it forms a thick, spreadable paste.
Let cool.

3. Shape the Cookies

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Divide dough into 3–4 portions for easier handling.
Roll dough into a thin rectangle (⅛–¼ inch / 3–5 mm).
Cut into small squares (2×2 or 3×3 inches).
Place a teaspoon of walnut filling in the center.

Two shaping options:

Roll-ups: Roll from one corner or edge into a mini log.
Crescents: Fold over filling and shape into a slight curve.

Place seam-side down on a baking sheet.

4. Bake

Bake 12–15 minutes, until bottoms are lightly golden but tops remain pale.

5. Dust & Serve

Cool slightly, then dust generously with powdered sugar.
Cookies become even more tender the next day.

💡 Tips for Perfect Nut Roll Cookies

✔ Chill dough so it rolls easily and stays tender.
✔ Filling should be thick — not runny.
✔ Don’t overbake; pale tops mean soft cookies.
✔ Use finely ground walnuts for the smoothest filling.
✔ Store in an airtight tin for up to 1 week.