Hazelnut Crescent Cookies

• Serves: 8 Dozen Cookies
• Prep Time: About 30 Minutes
• Total Time: About One Hour

Ingredients

• 1 cup softened (not runny or whipped) unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup hazelnuts grated or finely ground
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• confectioner's sugar

Instructions

Cream butter and granulated sugar using an electric mixer.

Add nuts, flour, salt, and vanilla. knead with your fingers or a pastry cutter. If the mixture won't hold together, add about a tablespoon of ice water, as needed. Work dough until all ingredients are well blended and the dough holds together.

Using teaspoonfuls of dough, shape into little crescents.

Place 2" apart on cookie sheets and bake in oven at 300F degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until cookies are faintly brown outside and done inside. (Break one open if you need to.)

Remove from oven and dust heavily with confectioner's sugar.

Cool to room temperature before storing.

Makes about 8 dozen small cookies.