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Oreshki are at the center of some of my favorite childhood memories. They are crumbly and buttery, with a rich creamy filling. Trust me, there is nothing better.

a bowl of Russian walnut cookies

What Are Oreshki?

Oreshki are walnut-shaped Russian cookies that are filled with dulce de leche. They always come out during the holidays and are the perfect addition to any holiday cookie tray. We love to pair them with coffee or tea.

To make Oreshki, you will need to purchase a special mold. You can easily find many different molds online and it allows you to make these cookies with ease.

They go back all the way to days of the Soviet Union. Although absolutely delicious, they were born out of a need for people to make due with very little ingredients or resources. Now, the tables have turned and these cookies are served during special occasions and are often the star of the dessert tray.

How To Make Walnut Cookies

With the right mold, this cookies are an absolute cinch to make. Follow the below instructions for perfect oreshki:

  • Mix together flour and sugar.
  • Incorporate butter and margarine until smooth.
  • Make a hole in the center of your flour mixture. Add eggs, mayo and baking powder into it.
  • Using your handheld mixer, beat until the dough is combined, soft and a little sticky.
  • Place small pieces of dough inside each metal form of an oreshki shell mold. When using a stovetop, cook until golden brown. Flip the pan over and cook the other side. Each side can take 1½ to 3 minutes.
  • Let the cookies cool. Then, break off the excess dough that seeped out of the molds and cooked to the inside of the pan.
  • Fill each mold with dulce de leche. Then, place another mold on top to make an acorn shape.
dough in the making for oreshki
well combined dough in a bowl for Russian walnut cookies
little ball shaped dough
Russian walnut cookies in oreshnitsa
walnut cookie halves
Russian walnut cookies in a bowl

Filling Options for Oreshki

You can really get creative with a filling for oreshki. While the cookie is wonderful plain, here are a couple ways to mix things up:

  • Dulce De Leche – This is the most common filling that goes back to the days of the 90s!
  • Dulce De Leche with Cookie Crumbs – When you cut off those unperfect edges, you can crumble them and mix them into dulce de leche.
  • Nut in the Center – Fill with dulce the leche, but add a nut in the center as a crunchy surprise. It’s so good!
  • Nutella – This is a bit of an unexpected filling. We didn’t use it growing up, but I am sure we would have, have we had access to Nutella.

Storing Oreshki

Room temperature: You can make oreshki weeks in advance and store them in an airtight container. They will stay fresh and are the perfect treat to have on hand when you need a dessert in a pinch.

Refrigerate or Freeze: To make your oreshki last even longer, you can store them in the fridge or freezer. Refrigerated oreshki will keep up to a month and frozen oreshki can be stored for months in an airtight container.

More Cookies to Love

So many cookies, so little time. The following are some of our favorites year around:

Recipe

Russian walnut cookies in a bowl

Russian Walnut Cookies

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Servings
50 cookies
Prep Time 50 mins
Cook Time 50 mins
Total Time 1 hr 40 mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
Oreshki are at the center of some of my favorite childhood memories. They are crumbly and buttery, with a rich creamy filling. Trust me, there is nothing better.

Ingredients

US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • In a bowl, mix together the flour and sugar.
  • Add in butter and margarine. Use a handheld mixer to combine the ingredients until you have a smooth, even consistency.
  • Make a little hole in the middle of the flour mixture. Then, add the eggs, mayo and baking powder into it.
    crumbly dough for russian walnut cookies
  • Use your handheld mixer to beat the ingredients together completely. Your dough should be soft and a little sticky.
    well combined dough in a bowl for Russian walnut cookies
  • Place small pieces of dough inside each metal form of an oreshki mold. When using a stove top, cook until golden brown. Flip the pan over and cook the other side. FYI: Each side can take 1½ to 3 minutes depending on the thickness of your mold. Make sure to check the instructions on the box!
    Russian walnut cookies in oreshnitsa
  • Let the cookies cool. Then, break off the access dough that seeped out of the molds and cooked to the inside of the pan.
    walnut cookie halves with a jar of dulce de leche
  • Fill each mold with dulce de leche. Then, place another mold on top to make an walnut shape.
    Russian walnut cookies in a bowl
Nutrition Facts
Russian Walnut Cookies
Amount Per Serving
Calories 87 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Cholesterol 15mg5%
Sodium 49mg2%
Potassium 33mg1%
Carbohydrates 10g3%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 152IU3%
Calcium 12mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted December 17, 2020

About Author

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.