Brown Sugar Walnut Shortbread Acorn Cookies
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Brown sugar shortbread is shaped and baked to form these adorably delicious acorn cookies. It’s an easy recipe to enjoy this fall. I love fall! The air is crisp and my step is quicker. I fill my pockets with acorns on my morning walk, keeping them in jars on my mantle.
On one walk a few years ago, I thought about how cute an acorn-shaped shortbread cookie would be, with a caramel and chopped walnut “hat”.
I think shortbread is one of the easiest cookies to make. With just three ingredients you can make this delicious buttery treat. I’ve been making Scottish Shortbread since I was a young teen, and while it’s amazing on its own, sometimes it’s fun to give it a nutty twist. I think walnuts are the perfect match with brown sugar shortbread. This simple, nut-filled cookie dough can also be rolled into a log and refrigerated, or frozen for a quick slice-and-bake cookie. They’re also perfect for the holiday season.
Ingredients for brown sugar shortbread
- 8 ounces unsalted butter , softened
- 1/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup chopped walnuts divided, finely
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
How to make this brown sugar shortbread recipe
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large bowl or an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, cream butter and sugars on a medium speed, until light and fluffy. Add vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Combine flour and salt and slowly add flour mixture to butter just until incorporated.
- Mix in 1/3 cup chopped nuts.
- Using a scant tablespoon of dough, form into acorn shapes. Chill cookies on a baking pan or sheet until firm.
- Or form into a log, wrap dough in plastic wrap or parchment paper, and chill. When ready to bake, slice dough and place on a cookie sheet. A cookie stamp, or cookie cutters would work well too!
- Bake at 350 degrees F. until very light golden brown.
- Optional: Dip cookies in caramel or melted chocolate and finely chopped nuts.
Slice and bake just a few cookies at a time when you have a sweet tooth. My daughter helped me shape the acorn-shaped cookies and then the next day we made a second batch using the slice-and-bake roll just to see if they would look “acorn-ish”.
Dip ends of cooled cookies in slightly warm caramel. Then roll in chopped nuts.
Store leftover cookies in an air-tight container, or freeze.
Love shortbread? Try these recipes!
Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies
Ingredients
- 8 ounces unsalted butter , softened
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup chopped walnuts divided, finely
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl fitted with a paddle, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add vanilla. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Combine flour and salt and slowly add to butter mixture just until incorporated.
- Mix in 1/3 cup chopped nuts.
- Using a scant tablespoon of dough, form into acorn shapes. Or form into a log, wrap in foil or plastic wrap and chill. For rolled cookies, slice 1/4″ thick.
- Chill acorn cookies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment or silicon baking sheet, about 20 minutes.
- Bake at 350 degrees F. for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Let sit for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to finish cooling.
- When cool, dip tops into caramel, then into remaining chopped nuts. Chill until firm.
- Store in an airtight container.
- Makes 3-4 dozen depending on size.
Yes to these super cool cookies!
Thank you Gerry!
How cute are THOSE!!!! Bring them to the FBLA Cookie Exchange!
Good idea Dorothy! Thanks!
These are just the cutest cookies in all the land. Love.
Thank you Kim! <3
These are adorable and look delicious too! I love the combo of shortbread, caramel and nuts.
Hi Cynthia – these little shortbread cookies are so clever Cynthia. They are perfect for a harvest or halloween party…
Love Autumn! Love acorns! Love baking! Love these cookies!
Thank you!
These are the cutest fall cookies!
Thank you Rebecca!
These cookies are absolutely adorable and look yummy too! Great idea!
Thank you Luci!
Adorable little cookies! We love shortbread. GOtta try the caramel addition now
Yes! The caramel is a nice touch and holds the nuts!
How cute! This would be a fun project with my kids. I love how you dipped the tops in caramel sauce.
Yes, this is the perfect project to do with kids!
How adorable are these! Fall is in the air. Love the caramel topping too. Everybody is going to love the these.
Thank you Ginny! They are certainly fun for fall!
I’m not a fan of caramel, is there a recipe for just the cookie with walnuts?
Or can I just omit the caramel?
Thank you.
Hi sandia,
I just dip the finished cookies in the caramel and roll them in the nuts at the end, so if you don’t like caramel, just skip that step!
I have never had or used caramel sauce. Does it harden on the cookie after a while?
It doesn’t harden like crunchy, it’ll be soft.
looks so yummy! Rose Scented Shortbread is my fav..
These cookies look so cute like little acorns!Pinned. Thanks for sharing.