Italian Nut Roll Cookies – Tender, Buttery & Filled with Sweet Spiced Walnut Goodness

🎉 Introduction

These Italian Nut Roll Cookies (also known as Cucidati Nut Rolls or Italian Walnut Filled Cookies) are a nostalgic holiday classic — tender, buttery pastry-style cookies wrapped around a rich, sweet, spiced nut filling.

The dough is soft, slightly flaky, and lightly sweet. The filling — a luscious blend of finely ground walnuts, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar — is cozy, fragrant, and perfect for Christmas baking. Once baked, the rolls are sliced into beautiful spirals and dusted with powdered sugar for an elegant finish.

They’re traditional, old-fashioned, and absolutely irresistible — like a cross between a soft cookie and a mini pastry. Perfect for holiday platters, gifting, or enjoying with coffee.

🧰 Equipment Needed

• Mixing bowls
• Hand or stand mixer
• Rolling pin
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Food processor (optional for grinding nuts)
• Pastry brush
• Cooling rack

🛒 Ingredients

Dough

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder

Nut Filling

• 2 cups finely ground walnuts
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup milk (more if needed)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Finishing

• 1 egg + 1 tbsp water (egg wash)
• Powdered sugar for dusting

👩‍🍳 Directions

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

In a large bowl, cream together:

• butter
• sugar

Beat 2–3 minutes until smooth and fluffy.

Add:

• eggs
• vanilla

Mix until fully combined.

In a separate bowl whisk:

• flour
• baking powder
• salt

Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until a soft dough forms.

Divide into 2 discs, wrap, and chill 1 hour.

Step 2: Make the Nut Filling

In a bowl mix:

• ground walnuts
• brown sugar
• honey
• milk
• cinnamon
• vanilla
• salt

You want a spreadable paste.
Add a splash more milk if too thick.

Step 3: Roll the Dough

Lightly flour your surface.

Roll each dough disc into a 10×12-inch rectangle.

Spread half the nut filling evenly over the dough.

Starting from the long end, roll tightly into a log.

Repeat with second disc.

Chill logs 15 minutes for clean cutting.

Step 4: Slice & Bake

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

Using a sharp knife, slice logs into 1-inch pieces.

Place on lined baking sheets.

Brush tops lightly with egg wash.

Bake 12–15 minutes until edges are lightly golden.

Cool completely.

Step 5: Dust & Serve

Once cooled, dust cookies generously with powdered sugar.

Serve fresh or store for later — they get even better the next day.

🍽️ Servings & Timing

• Servings: ~28 cookies
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Chill Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Bake Time: 12–15 minutes
• Total Time: ~1 hour 45 minutes

🧊 Storage & Freezing

Room Temp: 5–7 days
Fridge: 10 days
Freezer: 2 months

Freeze baked cookies or freeze the unbaked logs and slice before baking.

🥄 Variations

1. Italian Fig Nut Rolls (Cucidati Style)
   Add figs, dates, or orange zest to filling.
2. Chocolate Walnut Rolls
   Add 2 tbsp cocoa powder to the filling.
3. Hazelnut Roll Cookies
   Swap walnuts for hazelnuts or pecans.
4. Maple Walnut Rolls
   Replace honey with maple syrup.
5. Almond Biscotti-Style Rolls
   Add almond extract and almonds.
6. Pistachio Nut Rolls
   Use pistachios + orange zest.
7. Glazed Nut Rolls
   Drizzle with vanilla icing instead of powdered sugar.
8. Spiced Holiday Rolls
   Add nutmeg + cloves.
9. Chocolate-Dipped Rolls
   Dip half of each cookie in melted chocolate.
10. Sugar-Free Version
    Swap sugar for monk fruit sweetener.

❓ 10 FAQs

1. Can I use pecans instead of walnuts?
   Yes — pecans or hazelnuts both work.
2. My dough is sticky — what do I do?
   Chill longer or add 1–2 tbsp flour.
3. Can I make these ahead?
   Yes — they’re perfect for advance baking.
4. Why did my rolls crack?
   Dough was too cold when rolling.
5. Do they need powdered sugar?
   Not required, but traditional.
6. Can I double the batch?
   Absolutely — great for gifting.
7. Can I add raisins?
   Yes — finely chop and mix into filling.
8. Why are mine dry?
   Overbaked — pull when lightly golden.
9. Can these be made gluten-free?
   Use 1:1 GF flour blend.
10. Do they taste better the next day?
    Yes — flavors deepen beautifully.

🏁 Conclusion

These Italian Nut Roll Cookies are tender, buttery, nutty, and filled with warm holiday spice — a nostalgic cookie that feels like it came straight from a grandmother’s Christmas kitchen. With soft pastry-like dough wrapped around a rich walnut filling, each cookie is a perfect little bite of holiday tradition.

Elegant, delicious, and perfect for festive cookie trays.

Italian Nut Roll Cookies – Tender, Buttery & Filled with Sweet Spiced Walnut Goodness

These Italian Nut Roll Cookies (also known as Cucidati Nut Rolls or Italian Walnut Filled Cookies) are a nostalgic holiday classic — tender, buttery pastry-style cookies wrapped around a rich, sweet, spiced nut filling. The dough is soft, slightly flaky, and lightly sweet. The filling — a luscious blend of finely ground walnuts, honey, cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar — is cozy, fragrant, and perfect for Christmas baking. Once baked, the rolls are sliced into beautiful spirals and dusted with powdered sugar for an elegant finish. They’re traditional, old-fashioned, and absolutely irresistible — like a cross between a soft cookie and a mini pastry. Perfect for holiday platters, gifting, or enjoying with coffee.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr

Servings: 25 Cookies

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

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Ingredients

  

Dough

• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsalted butter softened
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder

Nut Filling

• 2 cups finely ground walnuts
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup honey
• ¼ cup milk more if needed
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

Finishing

• 1 egg + 1 tbsp water egg wash
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Get Our Best App for Daily Great Recipes 🍽️

Discover warm, delicious, home-style meals — fresh recipes added every day inside Jacky’s Kitchen.

Coming Soon

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Hand or stand mixer
• Rolling Pin
• Baking sheets
• Parchment paper
• Food processor (optional for grinding nuts)
• Pastry brush
• Cooling rack

Method

 

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

1. In a large bowl, cream together:
2. butter
3. sugar
4. Beat 2–3 minutes until smooth and fluffy.
5. Add:
6. eggs
7. vanilla
8. Mix until fully combined.
9. In a separate bowl whisk:
10. flour
11. baking powder
12. salt
13. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix until a soft dough forms.
14. Divide into 2 discs, wrap, and chill 1 hour.

Step 2: Make the Nut Filling

1. In a bowl mix:
2. ground walnuts
3. brown sugar
4. honey
5. milk
6. cinnamon
7. vanilla
8. salt
9. You want a spreadable paste.
10. Add a splash more milk if too thick.

Step 3: Roll the Dough

1. Lightly flour your surface.
2. Roll each dough disc into a 10×12-inch rectangle.
3. Spread half the nut filling evenly over the dough.
4. Starting from the long end, roll tightly into a log.
5. Repeat with second disc.
6. Chill logs 15 minutes for clean cutting.

Step 4: Slice & Bake

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Using a sharp knife, slice logs into 1-inch pieces.
3. Place on lined baking sheets.
4. Brush tops lightly with egg wash.
5. Bake 12–15 minutes until edges are lightly golden.
6. Cool completely.

Step 5: Dust & Serve

1. Once cooled, dust cookies generously with powdered sugar.
2. Serve fresh or store for later — they get even better the next day.

Notes

🧊 Storage & Freezing

Room Temp: 5–7 days
Fridge: 10 days
Freezer: 2 months

Freeze baked cookies or freeze the unbaked logs and slice before baking.

🥄 Variations

Italian Fig Nut Rolls (Cucidati Style)
Add figs, dates, or orange zest to filling.

Chocolate Walnut Rolls
Add 2 tbsp cocoa powder to the filling.

Hazelnut Roll Cookies
Swap walnuts for hazelnuts or pecans.

Maple Walnut Rolls
Replace honey with maple syrup.

Almond Biscotti-Style Rolls
Add almond extract and almonds.

Pistachio Nut Rolls
Use pistachios + orange zest.

Glazed Nut Rolls
Drizzle with vanilla icing instead of powdered sugar.

Spiced Holiday Rolls
Add nutmeg + cloves.

Chocolate-Dipped Rolls
Dip half of each cookie in melted chocolate.

Sugar-Free Version
Swap sugar for monk fruit sweetener.

❓ 10 FAQs

Can I use pecans instead of walnuts?
Yes — pecans or hazelnuts both work.

My dough is sticky — what do I do?
Chill longer or add 1–2 tbsp flour.

Can I make these ahead?
Yes — they’re perfect for advance baking.

Why did my rolls crack?
Dough was too cold when rolling.

Do they need powdered sugar?
Not required, but traditional.

Can I double the batch?
Absolutely — great for gifting.

Can I add raisins?
Yes — finely chop and mix into filling.

Why are mine dry?
Overbaked — pull when lightly golden.

Can these be made gluten-free?
Use 1:1 GF flour blend.

Do they taste better the next day?
Yes — flavors deepen beautifully.

🏁 Conclusion

These Italian Nut Roll Cookies are tender, buttery, nutty, and filled with warm holiday spice — a nostalgic cookie that feels like it came straight from a grandmother’s Christmas kitchen. With soft pastry-like dough wrapped around a rich walnut filling, each cookie is a perfect little bite of holiday tradition.

Elegant, delicious, and perfect for festive cookie trays.