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Simple Walnut Cookies with Dulce de Leche (Oreshki)

These traditional Russian Walnut Cookies cookies feature a soft shell and an irresistible dulce de leche filling! All packaged in a beautiful walnut shape to make your holidays a bit more special.

Open walnut cookies ready to eat filled with dulce de leche.

This recipe is one that I have loved since I was a little girl. Sometimes, we outgrow the things we once loved in our childhood – but that’s not the case here. I am just as obsessed with this recipe now as I was in my childhood. Cookie wells filled with the tastiest traditional filling has my mouth watering.

These oreshki cookies are a delicious homemade dessert! Oreshki make a great treat. New neighbors? They make a lovely food gift.

Walnut shell-shaped tender dough is filled with only the best filling: a high quality dulce de leche cream! You can’t find these delicious baked goods in a grocery store.

What Are Oreshki?

An iconic Russian treat, oreshki are favorite traditional cookies loved by young and old alike. We enjoy them around the holidays and make any gathering just a little bit sweeter. Oreshki consists of two different components – the cookie part and the filling part.

The cookie is similar to a shortbread cookie recipe. We make it from eggs, butter, sugar, flour, baking soda, corn starch, and lemon.

The result is sweet cookies that hold their form but are so soft, they melt in your mouth. The filling is dulce de leche. The combination of both is just out-of-this-world amazing, you guys! There’s no need to preheat the oven or prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper- the walnut maker takes care of all that work!

Top view of walnut cookies on a grey plate atop a wooden board.

We already have so much to love with these cookies!

But I haven’t even told you the best part. The cookies have the shape of walnuts! They are absolutely adorable and stir up a lot of fun. If you’re looking for a new winter cookie to share with friends and family, this is the one!

You’ll need a special mold to make the cookie shells. With that, my homemade dulce de leche recipe to create the center filling. The simple ingredients here make a treat that’s perfect for special occasions and holiday parties.

To make oreshki, you might need some special equipment:

An oreshki mold is not hard to come by, but there’s many different cookie mold options out there. Sometimes they’re in an oreshki skillet form, or as an oven mold. Whether you buy an oreshki griddle or a pan, you can make these traditional crisp cookies easily at home!

I hope you try this and enjoy this oreshki recipe just as much as I do!

Key Ingredients

Walnut cookies ingredients labeled- flour, corn starch, dulce de leche, sugar, butter, baking soda, lemon, and egg.
  • eggs
  • sugar
  • butter
  • baking soda
  • flour
  • half a lemon
  • corn starch

Dulce de Leche Recipe for Dulce de Leche (homemade caramel)

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to make Simple Walnut Cookies

Step 1: Melt the butter

Melt unsalted butter in the microwave or on the stove.

Melted butter in a pot.

Step 2: Combine eggs and sugar

In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar, then whisk in the melted butter.

Butter added to eggs and sugar in a bowl with a whisk.

Step 3: Combine lemon and baking soda

In a separate small dish, juice the lemon and add the baking soda. Let it foam then add into the bowl with eggs and sugar.

Lemon juice and baking soda in a bowl.

Step 4: Add the flour

Add the flour and cornstarch to the bowl. Mix everything with a spoon until well combined. The dough should not be super runny.

Added dry ingredients and baking soda mix to the batter in a silver bowl.

Heat the walnut cookie maker. Once it’s ready, place ¼ teaspoon of the dough into the shells and close the machine.

Cooking walnut cookie in a walnut cookie pan.

Step 6: Cook and cool

It will take about a minute for them to cook and be golden. Once finished, take each nut out and place onto a cutting board or counter for quick cooling. If there is too much dough around the walnuts, cut off the extra.

Cooked walnut cookie shells in a cookie pan.

Step 7: Set aside

Place the cooled nut half into a bowl as you finish the rest of the batter.

Walnut cookie shells set aside in a bowl.

Step 8: Fill and assemble

Fill each nut with the cooked dulce de leche and bring two halves together to make a whole. Enjoy!

Filling walnut cookie shells with dulce de leche filling on a wooden board.
Walnut cookies on a wooden board.

Expert Tips:

  • When putting the two halves together, align them nicely to make a good-looking and well-made walnut-shaped treat.
  • Quickly cool the cookies after removing them from the nut maker to maintain their shape and prevent overcooking.
  • Preheat the nut maker adequately. Use approximately ¼ teaspoon of dough for each walnut-shaped cookie to make sure they cook evenly.
  • Sprinkle the cookies with powdered sugar when serving for super simple presentation.
  • Mix in some finely chopped walnuts into the dulce de leche filling to add a touch of crunch to these dulce de leche cookies!
  • Feel free to flavor your dulce de leche with sea salt for a salted touch to these sweet cookies.

Recipe FAQs

Can I use store-bought dulce de leche?

Yes, you can use store-bought dulce de leche, or make your own by cooking sweetened condensed milk until caramelized.

How far in advance can I fill the cookies?

Fill the cookies just before serving to maintain their crispness. Filled cookies may soften over time.

Can I freeze these cookies?

I don’t recommend freezing these cookies. You can cook and store the walnut shells in an airtight container up to 4 days before filling them. This makes them a great make-ahead holiday dessert

Walnut cookies stack on a plate with handles.

I hope you loved these perfect treats! Here are some more tasty desserts you’ll enjoy:

More sweet recipes

If you tried these Walnut Cookies with Dulce de Leche or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

Walnut cookie halves open showing inside dulce de leche filling atop a stack of more walnut cookies covered in powdered sugar.

Simple Walnut Cookies with Dulce de Leche (Oreshki)

Walnut cookies are the perfect little dessert to bring to parties and it's filled with the easiest filling to make!
5 from 1 vote
Rate Print Save Pin
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: Russian
Allergy: Vegetarian
Total Time: 2 hours
Servings
Calories: 141kcal
Author: Marina Rizhkov

Equipment

  • small bowl
  • whisk
  • mixing bowl
  • measuring spoons
  • Salad servers

Ingredients

  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 16 Tbsp unsalted butter, 1 cup
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 1 cup all purpose flour, unbleached
  • 1 cup corn starch
  • 1 can dulce de leche, cooked

Instructions

  • Melt unsalted butter in the microwave or on the stove.
    16 Tbsp unsalted butter,
    Melted butter in a pot.
  • In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar, then whisk in the melted butter.
    3 eggs, 1 cup sugar
    Butter added to eggs and sugar in a bowl with a whisk.
  • In a separate small dish, juice the lemon and add the baking soda. Let it foam then add into the bowl with eggs and sugar.
    ½ lemon,, ½ tsp baking soda
    Lemon juice and baking soda in a bowl.
  • Add the flour and cornstarch to the bowl. Mix everything with a spoon until well combined. The dough should not be super runny.
    1 cup all purpose flour,, 1 cup corn starch
    Added dry ingredients and baking soda mix to the batter in a silver bowl.
  • Heat the walnut cookie maker. Once it's ready, place ¼ teaspoon of the dough into the shells and close the machine.
    Cooking walnut cookie in a walnut cookie pan.
  • It will take about a minute for them to cook and be golden. Once finished, take each nut out and place onto a cutting board or counter for quick cooling. If there is too much dough around the walnuts, cut off the extra.
    Cooked walnut cookie shells in a cookie pan.
  • Place the cooled nut half into a bowl as you finish the rest of the batter.
    Walnut cookie shells set aside in a bowl.
  • Fill each nut with the cooked dulce de leche and bring two halves together to make a whole. Enjoy!
    1 can dulce de leche,
    Filling walnut cookie shells with dulce de leche filling on a wooden board.

Notes

  • An oreshki mold is not hard to come by, but there’s many different cookie mold options out there. Sometimes they’re in an oreshki skillet form, or as an oven mold. 
  • Electrical walnut maker is what I have been using now, they are much easier to work with and turn out great. 
 

Nutrition

Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 39mg | Sodium: 31mg | Potassium: 18mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 253IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @allweeat_com or tag #allweeat!
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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