Walnut Cookies

People serve many kinds of cookies and candies to guests on Chinese New Year. Walnut cookies are often included.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (4 oz/120 g) butter, room temperature

• 1/4 cup (2 oz/50 g) granulated sugar

• 1/4 cup (2 oz/50 g) brown sugar

• 1 egg, beaten

• scant 2 cups (8 oz/225 g) all-purpose (plain) flour

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• pinch of salt

• 1/2 cup (2 1/2 oz/65 g) shelled walnuts, broken, plus extra to decorate (optional)

Directions

China

Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C/Gas Mark 4.

Beat the butter and sugars together until smooth. Add 2 tablespoons egg and mix until fully blended.

Sift the flour, baking soda (bicarbonate of soda), baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Sift again. Add to the wet mixture, in batches, and mix into a dough. Stir in the broken walnuts. Transfer the dough to a baking sheet, shape into a disk, and let rest for 30 minutes.

Divide the dough into 32 portions. Roll each portion into a ball in your palms and flatten slightly into a small round cookie. Top each circle, if desired, with a piece of broken walnut and transfer to a baking sheet.

Mix the remaining beaten egg with 1 tablespoon water to make an egg wash. Brush the tops of the cookies. Bake for 18 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F/160°C/Gas Mark 3 and bake for another 13 minutes until baked through.

Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Adapted from China: The Cookbook by Kei Lum and Diora Fong Chan (Phaidon, 2016)