Chinese Peanut Cookies
Indulge in these traditional Chinese Peanut Cookies, a Chinese New Year favorite. Easy to make, these cookies offer a perfect balance of sweet, peanutty flavor and a melt-in-your-mouth texture that's simply irresistible.
- Prep time
- 30 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 50 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
- 1+1/2 cup unsalted roasted peanuts (skinless)
- 1+1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 pinch salt
- 3/4 cup peanut oil (plus more, as needed)
- 1 egg yolk (lightly beaten)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 2
Grind the peanuts in a food processor until finely ground. Do not overblend, or the peanuts will turn into peanut butter. Grinding in short pulses works best.
- 3
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground peanuts, flour, powdered sugar, granulated sugar and salt. Mix well.
- 4
Pour in the peanut oil and use your fingers to gently knead the mixture until a dough forms.
- 5
Test the dough: Take about 1 teaspoon and squeeze it together in your hand, then gently roll it between your palms. If it crumbles too easily, add a little more oil (1 teaspoon at a time). The dough should hold together but still feel slightly dry rather than oily.
- 6
Roll the dough into small balls (about 1 teaspoon each) and arrange them about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet.
- 7
Lightly brush the tops of the cookies with the beaten egg yolk.
- 8
Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the cookies are lightly golden. Avoid overbaking, as the cookies will continue to firm up as they cool.
- 9
Let the cookies cool completely before storing or serving.