Recipe: Molasses Butter Balls (cookies)

MOLASSES BUTTER BALLS

"You will enjoy the hint of molasses in these cookies. Be sure to allow a couple of hours for the dough to chill for easier shaping."

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons light molasses
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup fine-chopped walnuts, divided use

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat together the butter, sugar, molasses, vanilla and salt until thoroughly mixed. Gradually stir in the flour and 1/2 cup walnuts. Chill the dough about 2 hours to make shaping easier.

WHEN READY TO BAKE:
When chilled, shape the dough into 1-inch balls and roll each in the remaining 1/2 cup walnuts. Place on the prepared baking sheet about 1 1/2 inches apart.

Bake in the center of the oven about 10 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottom. Cool on wire racks.

Makes about 24 cookies
Source: Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, April 19 2007