Christmas Cashew Ball Cookies

I'm obsessed with cookie recipes. I have hundreds of them on file. I create many of them myself. I enter a local Holiday Cookie Contest annually. I've been a finalist many times. The competition is so much fun. It's sponsored by The Dallas Morning News and Central Market. The judges are always well known Chefs and they keep us very well entertained while the judging is being done. They have drawings and door prizes and at some point during the event we all get our tupperware containers together and rush toward the table and "grab" all of the cookies that contestants have made to share. It's crazy fun! We go home with enough cookies to last us through the entire holiday season!
Here's another new favorite cookie recipe. I love Pecan Ball Cookies , but Cashews happen to be my favorite nuts. Well...... a tie with Pecans, since I do live in Texas and we love Pecans here!

Christmas Cashew Balls:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees to roast the Cashews. You'll reduce the temperature for baking.

1 C Cashews. (Roast them in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Transfer them to a bowl to cool.
2 C Flour
1/4 tsp Salt
2 sticks of Butter, cubed and softened to room temperature.
2 C Confectioner's Sugar, divided.
1/2 tsp Vanilla

In a Food Processor:
Roasted Cashews
Flour
Salt
Pulse to a fine powder.
Transfer to a mixing bowl and set aside.

In the Food Processor:
Butter
1/2 C Confectioner's Sugar
Pulse until creamy smooth.
Add Vanilla and pulse  just to incorporate.
Add the Flour mixture and pulse until just combined.

Place the dough in a mixing bowl, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees.

Put remaining Confectioner's Sugar in a small bowl and set aside.

Use a 1 1/2" Cookie Scoop to form the cookie balls. Roll them in the palm of your hand to smooth them.
Place them 1" apart on a parchment paper lined sheet pan.
Bake for 20 - 25 minutes.
They'll be dry but still a bit soft.

Remove the pan to a rack for 5 minutes.

Gently roll the cookies in the bowl of Confectioner's Sugar.
Transfer the rolled cookies to the rack and cool completely.

If storing the cookies in an airtight container before serving, re-roll them in sugar just before serving

Enjoy!
Peace in the Kitchen!