Grandma Eva's Sandies are a perfect sweet treat! This Sandies recipe is an easy cookie recipe to mix, bake, and even freeze for those like me who like to get a jump on holiday baking!
When I first stumbled upon this recipe in my Grandma's collection, I had no memory of ever seeing or tasting these cookies. Curious, I asked my mom and sister if they remembered Grandma making them. My mom was unsure, but my sister said she did recall them.
As I read the recipe, I realized it might have been because I’m not the biggest fan of shortbread-style cookies. I debated whether or not to make them, but then reminded myself of my goal: to cook my way through my Grandma’s entire recipe box. That means every single recipe—no skipping!
One of the initial challenges I had with this particular recipe was the inclusion of walnuts. If you know me, you know I’m not a fan of nuts in cookies or muffins—it's a texture thing. But, like any dedicated baker, I pushed through. After all, the recipe called for the cookies to be rolled in powdered sugar, and I thought, how bad could they be?
As I started mixing up the dough, I was pleasantly surprised at how simple the recipe was. The dough came together effortlessly, and before I knew it, I had a huge batch of cookies ready to be baked. Bonus: these cookies are my latest addition to my holiday freezer stash.
Yes, you heard that right—I start baking cookies for the holidays months in advance. Between family gatherings and friends stopping by, we go through tons of cookies during the holiday season. It’s incredible how quickly our freezer fills up... and then, just as quickly, how it empties out!
After I popped the cookies into the oven and rolled them in powdered sugar, I let them cool on a rack. Then, came the moment of truth—the taste test. I made a mental note to keep an open mind, and to my surprise, it was love at first bite! These cookies didn’t have the typical shortbread texture I had been expecting. Instead, they were lighter, almost like a cross between a scone and a cookie.
The powdered sugar coating added just the right amount of sweetness, and the walnuts, surprisingly, added a nice subtle crunch that complemented the cookie perfectly. Obviously, a thank you needs to go to Pauline Rosebaugh, I wish I knew who she was, but I am assuming this is her recipe since her name is at the top right.
I was thrilled I stuck to my goal and tried out this recipe. These cookies turned out to be delicious, and a perfect reminder of the unexpected joys that come from trying something new—even if it’s a little outside of your comfort zone.
If you're looking for a new cookie recipe, especially one with a bit of history and nostalgia, I highly recommend these Walnut Powdered Sugar Cookies from Grandma’s recipe box. They’re simple to make, freeze well for holiday prep, and might just surprise you the way they did me. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!
Why You Should Give These Cookies a Try
- Perfect for Holiday Prep: These cookies freeze beautifully, making them an excellent choice if you’re like me and prefer to get a head start on holiday baking. Bake them now, and enjoy them later!
- A Delicious Twist on Traditional Shortbread: If you’re not a fan of the usual dense, crumbly shortbread texture, these cookies offer a softer, scone-like variation that might win you over.
- A Sweet, Nutty Surprise: Even if you’re not big on nuts in cookies, the walnuts in this recipe add a pleasant crunch without being overwhelming, especially when paired with the powdered sugar coating.
Pro Tips for Perfect Cookies
Store and Freeze: Store these cookies in an airtight container at room temperature, or freeze them for up to three months. They’re perfect to pull out when you need a sweet treat for guests (or yourself!).
Chill the Dough: If you have time, chilling the dough for about 30 minutes before baking can help the cookies hold their shape better and enhance the flavor.
Roll While Warm: Roll the cookies in powdered sugar while they’re still warm from the oven. This helps the sugar adhere better and creates a nice, sweet coating.
How to make Grandma Eva's Sandies
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Cream together the oleo/shortening and powdered sugar.
- Then add vanilla, water, salt, flour and nuts.
- Form into small balls.
- Baker at 375 for 10-12 minutes. (depending on your oven and the size of cookies you roll.)
- As soon as you remove them from the oven, roll them in powdered sugar. Be careful, they will be hot, but the powdered sugar sticks better when they are warm.
- Place on a cooling rack and enjoy!
Grandma Eva's Sandies
Equipment
- 1 Mixer
Ingredients
- 1 cup Oleo/Shortening
- 1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
- 1 tbsp Water
- 2 cup flour
- Salt
- 1 cup Chopped pecans or walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees
- Cream together the oleo/shortening and powdered sugar.
- Then add vanilla, water, salt, flour and nuts.
- Form into small balls.
- Baker at 375 for 10-12 minutes. (depending on your oven and the size of cookies you roll.)
- As soon as you remove them from the oven, roll them in powdered sugar. Be careful, they will be hot, but the powdered sugar sticks better when they are warm.
- Place on cooling rack and enjoy!
Video
@purpleiriseverywhere Grandma's Sandies....the next recipe up in my goal of cooking my way through her recipe box! Another recipe that did not disappoint. #grandmasrecipe #sandiescookies #christmascookies #cookies #manhattanks #mhk
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