Russian Tea Cakes Cookie

When I was a teenager, for Christmas holidays and special occasions, we made a delicious little round cookie that was filled with finely chopped pecans. We called them Sand Tarts in north Louisiana. The more common name is Russian Tea Cakes.

My Sand Tarts cookie recipe varies a little from the recipes for Russian Tea Cakes and I'll share it, as well as the standard cookie. This sturdy tea cake cookie is a good one to make for Christmas boxes and tins to give as gifts.

Russian Tea Cake Cookies photo Creative Commons

Here is the original recipe for this tasty little cookie. I had the 1960s recipe, which was written in my own hand, on an index card, in my first recipe file. It is similar to other cookies called Russian Teacakes or Mexican Wedding Cakes, but those recipes are missing the secret ingredient.

Sand Tarts Recipe

1 cup butter or margarine

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 cups all purpose Flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (pecans)

Confectioners' sugar

Cream butter well. Add sugar, vanilla and almond extract and mix thoroughly. Stir flour and salt together; blend in gradually. Mix in chopped nuts. Chill dough.

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll dough into 3/4 to 1" balls. Place on ungreased baking sheet. (Cookies will remain in a ball shape.) Bake 10 to 12 min., or until set but not brown. While still warm, roll in confectioners' sugar. Makes about 4 dozen 1" cookies.

This looks just like the one I still have from the 1960's.

Basically the same cookie, with a little more flour and without almond extract.

Russian Tea Cakes

1 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup sifted confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 1/4 cups all purpose Gold Medal Flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup finely chopped nuts

Mix butter, sugar, and vanilla thoroughly. Measure flour by diping method or by sifting. Stir Flour and salt together; blend in. Mix in nuts. Chill dough.

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. (mod. hot). Roll dough in 1 inch balls. Place on ungreased baking sheet. (Cookies do not spread.) Bake 10 to 12 min., or until set but not brown. While still warm, roll in confectioners' sugar. Cool. Roll in sugar again. Makes about 4 doz. 1" cookies.

You can also find the recipe, with pictures, on the Betty Crocker site .

Russian Tea Cakes are perfect for putting in Christmas gift tins and boxes. They go well with any of the other Christmas cookies.

You could also include them in a gift basket with a selection of tea, coffee or hot cocoa. Add some mugs, Christmas dish towels or pot holders to create a festive display.

Buy Vintage Box of Christmas Cookies Notecard by lkranieri on Zazzle.com

This nice rectangular basket would work well for a tea and cookies gift.

Zazzle has all kinds of mugs and they can be personalized to make the gift even more special.

Buy Snow Fawn and bunny Cross Stitch mug by naturegirl7 on Zazzle.com

Buy Red Cardinal Mug by naturegirl7 on Zazzle.com

Hot chocolate is great for children and adults... Yum!

A cookie jar filled with homemade cookies makes a welcome gift.

Buy "Share the Joy" by hahn_artwork on Zazzle