Russian Teacake Recipe

  "Take some more tea," the March Hare said to Alice very earnestly. "I've had nothing yet," Alice replied in an offended tone, "so I can't take more." "You mean you can't take less," said the Hatter, "It's very easy to take more than nothing."
Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 1865

Festive Cookie Recipe

Russian teacakes aren't just for festive gatherings. Try serving this sweet treat at a holiday gathering, dinner party or even an afternoon brunch. The recipe for Russian teacakes makes approximately 2 1/2 dozen cookies. The dough for Russian teacakes can be made a day or two in advance, and stored in the refrigerator until they are ready to be baked. Leftover cookies can be stored in the freezer for a few weeks.

Ingredients for Russian Teacakes

• 1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
• 1 cup unsalted butter - room temperature
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup chopped pistachios
• additional confectioner's sugar for garnish

Directions for Russian Teacakes

1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.
2. In a large bowl, cream the confectioner's sugar and the softened butter together, using a large mixing spoon.
3. In a small bowl, sift the flour.
4. Add the flour to the butter and sugar mixture, a little bit at a time, until well blended.
5. Stir in the vanilla extract and pistachios.
6. Cover the bowl of dough with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator for approximately 1/2 hour.
7. Remove the bowl of dough from the refrigerator, and begin to roll the dough into large marble sized pieces,  using 1 level tablespoon of the dough for each cookie.
8. Place the balls of dough onto a cookie sheet, which has been sprayed with a bit of non-stick cooking spray.
9. Place the cookie sheet in the oven and bake for 17 to 20 minutes, until light golden brown.
10. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and place on a wire wrack to cool off slightly.
11. Remove the cookies from the cookie sheet, and roll each one in confectioner's sugar.
12. If a thicker sugar coating is desired, roll the cookies a second time in confectioner's sugar.

Recipe Tips and Suggestions

• Pecans, walnuts, or even macadamia nuts can be substituted for the pistachios, if desired.
• Margarine can be used in placed of the butter.