Double Vanilla Delights

By Shelly17

This delicate cookie has the rich vanilla flavor right from the bean.

Ingredients

• Cookie:
• 1 vanilla bean
• 1 cup Land O Lakes® Butter, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 Land O Lakes® Egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
• Sugar Frosting:
• 1 vanilla bean
• 1/3 cup Land O Lakes® Half & Half or Fat Free Half & Half
• 2 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar

Preparation

Step 1

Heat oven to 375°F.

Slice 1 vanilla bean lengthwise with sharp knife on flat surface. Scrape seeds into bowl; reserve bean pod shell.

Add 1 cup butter to seeds in bowl; beat at medium speed until creamy. Add sugar, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and egg; continue beating until well mixed. Add flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt; beat at low speed until well mixed. Stir in walnuts.

Place additional sugar into bowl. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll balls in sugar. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 9-11 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. Cool completely.

Slice 1 vanilla bean for frosting lengthwise with sharp knife on flat surface. Open vanilla bean to expose seeds; place vanilla bean with seeds and reserved vanilla bean pod shell into 2-quart saucepan. Add half & half; cook over medium heat until mixture just starts to boil. Remove from heat; let mixture stand at room temperature 30 minutes or until cool. Discard vanilla bean pods.

Combine half & half mixture, 2 tablespoons butter and 2 cups powdered sugar in bowl. Beat at low speed, adding additional half & half if necessary for desired frosting consistency. Frost cooled cookies.


*Substitute 1 tablespoon real vanilla extract.

**Substitute 1 tablespoon real vanilla extract. Eliminate step to cook vanilla bean in half & half. Combine half & half with butter and powdered sugar as directed.