Thyme–Walnut Sandies
Delicate shortbread cookies made with toasted walnuts and fresh thyme, finished with a citrusy orange-thyme glaze. These sophisticated cookies blend savory herbs with sweet undertones for an elegant treat.
Ingredients
- •⅔ cup walnuts
- •½ cup whole wheat flour
- •1½ cups all-purpose flour
- •½ teaspoon kosher salt
- •2 tablespoons chopped thyme
- •1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- •1 cup unsalted butter
- •½ cup powdered sugar
- •2¾ cups powdered sugar
- •½ teaspoon orange zest
- •¼ cup orange juice
- •1 tablespoon heavy cream
- •1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
- •1 teaspoon thyme leaves
- •¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing halfway through, until golden brown, 7-10 minutes. Let cool.
10 min
- 2.
Pulse walnuts and whole wheat flour in a food processor until finely ground. Add all-purpose flour and salt and pulse to combine.
5 min
- 3.
Using your fingers, work thyme into granulated sugar in a small bowl until mixture starts to look moist and clump together. Using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat thyme sugar, butter, and powdered sugar in a large bowl until light and smooth, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low and gradually add dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Use a rubber spatula to mix in any remaining dry spots or flour at the bottom of the bowl.
5 min
- 4.
Transfer dough to a sheet of parchment paper and form into a 12" log. Firmly roll up log in parchment paper, then wrap tightly in plastic. Chill on a flat surface until firm, at least 4 hours.
240 min
- 5.
Preheat oven to 350°. Slice off both ends of log to make neat edges, then remove plastic and parchment. Slice dough into 1/4"-thick rounds and place on parchment-lined rimmed baking sheets, spacing about 1" apart. Bake, rotating baking sheets halfway through, until edges of cookies are light golden but centers are still pale, 10-15 minutes. Let cookies cool on baking sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks and let cool completely.
20 min
- 6.
Whisk powdered sugar, orange zest, orange juice, cream, coconut oil, thyme, and salt in a medium bowl until no lumps remain.
5 min
- 7.
Using a spoon or small offset spatula, spread about 1 tsp. icing over each cooled cookie (you will have some icing left over). Let cookies sit until icing is set, at least 45 minutes.
45 min
- 8.
Dough can be made 1 day ahead. Keep chilled, or freeze up to 1 month. Cookies can be frosted 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.