Cardamom Cookies

I love cardamom. I love the strong aromatic scent. I know this sounds strange, but it almost smells floral. It is a unique spice that I just can't get enough of. We already used it in the Spicy Gingersnaps. Let's try it as a starring ingredient, shall we?

You will need: 1 cup unsalted butter, softened (I know that the butter in the picture is salted butter, but I realized that I had made a mistake before I started baking), 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar, 3/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract, 1-3/4 + 2 T. sifted all-purpose flour, 3/4 tsp. ground cardamom, pinch of salt and 1/2 cup of finely chopped walnuts. You will also need additional confectioners' sugar for sifting over the top of the cookies.

Cream together the softened butter and the confectioners' sugar. I would highly suggest that you sift the sugar.

Add the vanilla extract. Remember, you will be able to taste the vanilla, so be sure to use a good quality pure vanilla extract.

After you have sifted together the flour, salt and cardamom, add them to your creamed butter mixture. Once again, do not overmix! Are you getting tired of me saying that? Me too. But don't overmix. Just mix until the flour has been incorporated.

You will want the walnuts to be ground fairly well because you don't want to get a huge bite of walnut. Well, maybe you do. Then you can do whatever you want. You were going to do that anyway, weren't you?

Cover the dough and let it rest in the refrigerator for a few hours, or overnight, whichever works for you.

Roll the cookies into 1 inch balls. If you are going to freeze these for later, then you are ready to go. Just put the plate of cookie dough balls into the freezer and allow them to freeze all the way through. Once they are frozen, put them into a Ziploc bag and they will be waiting for you! When you are ready to bake, just place them in the refrigerator the night before so that they will be ready for you when you are ready to bake.

Place the cookie dough balls on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-17 minutes. Once you have removed them from the oven, lightly dust the cookies with confectioners' sugar. You could also add a little extra cardamom on top if you are as obsessed as I am. Yum.

Well, that's day 9 of the 12 days of cookies! Tomorrow we have these:
Mocha Crackle Cookies. I know this is sad, but I believe I have more cookies than the 12 days. I think I need an intervention. However, Brad's employees and the caregivers at Nan's Alzheimer's Facility are well worth it. Happy Baking!