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Monday, November 12, 2012

Russian Tea Cakes

The last couple of days have been busy!
But I did manage to have some fun in the kitchen
baking another Christmas cookie and getting it
in the freezer.


Russian tea cakes are like snowballs made of shortbread.


They are a favorite at our house!
  I watched birds around the feeder as I mixed up the dough.  
I love the pine needle shadow on his back!


While Oreo was climbing trees, I formed the balls with an ice cream scoop.


Then I cut them in half with a knife and reshaped them a little.
This makes a little smaller cookie.  And since I'm filling cookie
platters for gifts, this smaller size is nicer.


I use parchment on my cookie sheets.
  I know a lot of bakers have switched to Silpat sheets, but what's the point?  You have to wash those!
I like not having to wash my cookie sheets!


After they have baked and cooled, roll them in powdered sugar.
Freeze or eat.  Or catch Jack watching from outside. :)



Isn't Jack getting to be a big boy?  He's such a big boy
that he got to have that snip-snip job done on Saturday.
He's resting this weekend and recovering nicely.
I found fishy in the water dish today, so he's back
to his old antics. :)

Russian Tea Cakes

1/2 c powdered sugar
1 c softened butter
2 t vanilla extract

Blend these three things well in mixer.

Then add ~

2 c flour
1 c finely chopped pecans
1/4 t salt

Mix gently on med speed.

Form balls, bake 325 for 15-20 minutes.
Light golden in color.
After cooling, roll in powdered sugar.

52 comments:

  1. Lovely shots of a lovely Sunday afternoon..
    Did some baking myself...and some babysitting...
    Enjoy your evening...

    Cheers!:o)
    Linda

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  2. Lovely pictures Betsy and your cakes look awesomr and beauty.
    Im happy Jack is ok:)
    Still I dont make any for Christmas:)

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    Replies
    1. I will have to stop baking Christmas cookies and make Thanksgiving pies soon! haha.

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    2. Yes thanksgiving is really close:)
      I think thansgiving is really a nice time!

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    3. Yes, it's The Mister's favorite holiday! It's more relaxing than others,...no commercialization, no gifts, just quiet. :)

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    4. i would like we have here; yes that I love is only thanksgiving:))

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  3. oh i am glad you gave the recipe...i was wondering if T could figure it out from the pictures....smiles...and love that pic of oreo in the tree....ha...happy sunday betsy

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  4. We love Snowballs here too. What a pretty little plate to serve cookies on. Did you find that in a leftover auction box?

    Uh oh, poor Jack. ;)

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    Replies
    1. I did get that little plate out of the trash! I loved it!

      haha...Jack's fine. he was pretty pathetic last night, though...poor buddy.

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    2. I have a heart for those pretty little plates too. :)

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    3. I'm always amazed that they aren't broken by the end of the day. Sometimes they are but not usually...and they are loose in big boxes of junk that people have rummaged through all day.
      I guess that's why finding one makes it seem even more like a little treasure. ha.

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  5. Oh yum! My Mom and sister used to make them at home when I was young. I'll have to make them this winter sometime.

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    Replies
    1. I was so good....6 dozen and I only sampled one and put the rest in the freezer. :)

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    2. wow you WERE good! but they would go quite nicely with a hot drink of some kind. I'll supply the drink if you supply the cookies :)

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    3. Perfect! I'd like one of those mocha peppermint lattes...that would go perfect with a snowball cookie! :)

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    4. the dream: Sounds like a plan, I'll be over after the kids go to school. haha -the reality: tackling the mountain of laundry they brought home and washing windows and... and... :) Hope you have a successful Monday.

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  6. these are one of our favorites as well, I never thought of using the scoop!!Dear Jack, speedy recovery!

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    Replies
    1. I use a scoop for all of my cookies...it's so much faster than rolling balls or dropping teaspoonfuls!

      I'll tell Jack... :)

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  7. Wonderful pictures, and yummy treats..but that picture of Oreo in the tree is just my absolute favorite. Glad Jack is doing well.

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    Replies
    1. I think there is always a cat in the tree...they rotate! haha.

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  8. Betsy, I love the last photo of the Russian Tea Cake on that beautiful plate!! Looks wonderful.

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    Replies
    1. thanks, tanna! A pretty plate just makes them look yummier, doesn't it? :)

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  9. Yum, your cookies look delicious! We have someting similar, but the aren't rolled in a ball. We call them mexican wedding cakes. I guess every country has their own version. They are one of my favs.
    Your cats are so photogenic. You really do need to make a calendar.

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    Replies
    1. Yes, that's what these are...sometimes I call them Mexican Wedding Cakes! What shape do you make them?

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    2. they look kind of like a coin, but about 1/4 inch thick and 1 1/2 inch wide.

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  10. Hi Betsy - love the photos and those of Oreo .. but the bird is special - as you say amazing colouring with the needle shadows ... oh those little cakes - so good to eat! Have a great week .. cheers Hilary

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  11. I swear by my baking parchment roll!!!

    Oh but these russian cookies look yum, yum!!!

    Take care
    x

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  12. Oh those look so good and wish I could just grab one from the screen like magic. We too have the Mexican Wedding Cakes in the stores here. I think they are not balls but flat with rounded tops. I will have to double check the next time I see them in a store. I don't think they are a year round item or I just don't pay enough attention. They are good though. So thankful you shared the recipe. I have the silpat sheets and do prefer the parchment paper. The Silpat sheets are not that easy to clean.

    Glad Jack is feeling better. Always good when they feel better.

    And I agree with the Mister on why Thanksgiving is the best holiday of the year.

    God bless.

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    Replies
    1. Seems like everyone raves about the Silpat. I've never tried it as I'm quite happy with the parchment. And disposable is the best part about it! haha.

      I agree about Thanksgiving, too! After all the cooking is done, it is very peaceful and relaxing...and leftovers for a few days isn't bad, either! I'm already dreaming of pecan pie! haha.

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  13. Those are my favorite cookies- which is why I only bake them at Christmas :)
    I also like parchment- started using it years ago when I cooked at frat house.

    hope you have a wonderful week.

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  14. Russian teacakes are one of my favorites for Christmas too, but I'm sure I would have eaten more than one before freezing them! And as always, I loved seeing the photos of Oreo and Jack. I'm glad Jack is recovering nicely!

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    Replies
    1. Jack's doing great...I missed his spunky self there for a couple of days!

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  15. You can cook
    And have time to look
    Talent there
    At your lair
    And yeah Jack is getting large
    No longer able to humty hump at your barge
    But still get the boy
    As his toy plays ships ahoy haha

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    Replies
    1. yep, multitasking over here
      as I bake and watch the critters out there.
      Jack never got to humpty hump.
      What he doesn't know won't hurt him, huh.
      Yes, the toys are still afloat
      with wet mice, who needs a boat?
      Have to tell you though
      among the toy mice he gives a go
      I found a real one without it's head
      I took it away, much to his dread.
      hahahaha. Geesh! Ew.

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    2. LMAO that was good
      Jack is getting payback with the mouse for being snip snip at your hood

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  16. Had to look twice to make sure the cats and the bird weren't ingredients in your recipe...

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  17. Betsy I forget to say you I love your plate is lovely!!
    have a nice day!
    Im finishing the embrodery!
    xo

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    Replies
    1. oh how fun! Can't wait to see, but don't rush. I know this is a very busy time for you!

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    2. yes is a hard time but almost I finish! :)

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  18. I was in Etsy/Betsy and I loved these glass jars, just beautiful!!

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  19. Oh how I love this cookie...and serving it on your elegant little plate there makes them even more inviting! MMM! I'm wondering if you need to reroll them in the powdered sugar after they're frozen? I've never frozen them before.

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  20. Yum! Yum! Yum!...great pics, too! :)...

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  21. A perfect addition to my top 10 Christmas cookies. Thanks.

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  22. Your shots and comments (directions) are worthy of a published cookbook.

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