Simple Walnut Cookies with Dulce de Leche (Oreshki)
Oreshki are Russian walnut cookies with a tender, buttery crumb and sweet dulce de leche filling. They're party-ready and require no complex filling technique.
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Instructions
1
Melt unsalted butter in the microwave or on the stove.
2
In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar, then whisk in the melted butter.
3
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.
4
Add the flour and cornstarch to the bowl. Mix everything with a spoon until well combined. The dough should not be super runny.
5
Heat the walnut cookie maker. Once it's ready, place ¼ teaspoon of the dough into the shells and close the machine.
6
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.
7
Place the cooled nut half into a bowl as you finish the rest of the batter.
8
Fill each nut with the cooked dulce de leche and bring two halves together to make a whole. Enjoy!
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Tips & Notes
Pro tips
Use room-temperature eggs and butter for a smoother dough with better rise.
Chill dough for 15–20 minutes before baking if it becomes too soft—this prevents spreading.
Don't overbake; cookies should look slightly underdone in the center when removed from the oven, as they continue to set while cooling.
Squeeze fresh lemon juice just before mixing; bottled lemon juice can affect texture.
Substitutions
Unsalted butter → salted butter (reduce added salt if recipe calls for it)
Corn starch → potato starch (1:1 ratio for tenderness)
Canned dulce de leche → homemade dulce de leche or caramel sauce
Storage & make-ahead
Store baked cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days; fill with dulce de leche no more than 4 hours before serving to keep the cookie crisp.
Common Questions
Can I make the dulce de leche filling from scratch?
Yes, but using canned dulce de leche is the easiest approach. If making from scratch, simmer sweetened condensed milk in a water bath for 2–3 hours until thick and caramel-colored.
Why is lemon juice in the dough?
Lemon juice reacts with baking soda to help the cookies rise slightly and adds subtle brightness to balance the sweetness.
Can I substitute the corn starch?
Corn starch creates a tender crumb. Potato starch works as a 1:1 swap; all-purpose flour alone will make cookies slightly tougher.
How do I know when the cookies are done?
Bake until edges are pale golden and centers feel just set when lightly pressed—about 12–14 minutes. They will firm up as they cool.
Can these cookies be made ahead?
Yes. Bake and cool cookies up to 3 days ahead in an airtight container. Fill with dulce de leche up to 4 hours before serving for best texture.