I have no idea how this cookie got so many names and still is the same cookie? When I was a kid we always called them Mexican Wedding Cakes, but now I've morphed into calling them Russian Tea Cookies. This recipe is a favorite of mine at Christmas. I only make them then and I have no idea why..they aren't that hard to make, but they definite are a Christmas cookie to me. I use the recipe from a very old Betty Crocker Cooky Book from 1963. It was one of my first cookbooks and has a lot of great cookie recipes in it. Thought I should put it on my blog in case it gets lost at some point or destroyed because it's the best recipe. Some of them are so bland and tasteless.
RUSSIAN TEACAKES:
1 cup room temperature butter (only!) no substitutes
1/2 cup confectioners sugar (powdered)
1 tsp vanilla
2-1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup finely chopped nuts (I use pecans)
Mix butter, sugar and vanilla thoroughly. Add flour and salt together; blend in. Mix in nuts. (I use my hands to combine it well)
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Press dough into 1 inch balls. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet pan. Cookies do not spread so you can place a lot of them on the pan. Bake 10-12 minutes until set but not brown. While warm (not really hot though) roll in confectioners sugar. cool. can roll in powdered sugar again if desired.
