Walnut cookies are true classics of Hungarian and Central European cuisine. Whether it’s shortcrust pastry, yeast dough or even cookies, the rich, aromatic taste and healthy fats of walnuts make every bite special.

Here’s a recipe for a crumbly, walnut “pillow”, which can be a perfect accompaniment to tea or coffee.

🥐 Shortbread walnut croissants (or pillows)
I. Ingredients
For the dough:

$500\,\text{g}$ fine flour
$250\,\text{g}$ cold butter (or margarine)
$2\,\text{dl}$ sour cream
$1\,\text{pinch}$ salt
$1\,\text{tablespoon}$ powdered sugar
For the walnut filling:

$250\,\text{g}$ ground walnuts
$150\,\text{g}$ powdered sugar
$1\,\text{pack}$ vanilla sugar
Grated lemon zest (from half a lemon)
$1–2\,\text{tablespoon}$ apricot jam (to make the filling creamy and not fall apart)
Optional: a little rum or rum flavoring
II. Preparation

1. Assemble the dough
   Crush the flour with the cold butter until it becomes crumbly.
   Add the powdered sugar, salt and sour cream.
   Knead quickly into a smooth dough (do not overheat with your hands).
   Wrap in foil and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 30–60 minutes.
2. Prepare the filling
   Mix the ground walnuts with the sugars and lemon zest.
   Add the jam (and rum), then mix until you get a well-shaped, thick mass.
3. Shaping and baking
   
   
   Roll out the dough to a thickness of about $3\,\text{mm}$.
   Cut into squares (for the pillows) or triangles (for the croissants).
   Place a small spoonful of filling in the middle and roll or fold.
   Place on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.
   Bake at 180°C (in a preheated oven) for approx. 12–15 minutes, until the edges are just starting to brown.
   III. Secrets for the perfect nutty flavor
   
   
   Roasting: If you lightly toast the nuts in a pan without oil before grinding, the flavor will be much more intense!
   The “snowy” exterior: Roll the cookies in vanilla icing sugar while they are still hot, so they get a beautiful and sweet coating.
   💡 Health tip from the “tresor”
   Since you appreciate the “Healthy Avocado Bread” recipe, it is worth knowing that nuts (like avocado) are full of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are excellent for the cardiovascular system. If you want to make this dessert even healthier:

Use whole wheat spelt flour for part of the dough.
Replace the powdered sugar in the filling with ground dates (date paste) – this adds natural sweetness and extra fiber!
Want a nutty apple version that’s even juicier and requires less added sugar?