Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent the cookies from sticking.

Step 2: Toast the Walnuts
This is an important step! Toasting the walnuts enhances their flavor and brings out their natural oils. Simply spread the chopped walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven for about 5-7 minutes. Keep an eye on them to make sure they don’t burn. Once they’re fragrant and golden, remove them from the oven and let them cool.

Step 3: Cream the Butter and Powdered Sugar
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. You can use a hand mixer or do it by hand with a wooden spoon—either works! Mix until the butter and sugar are well combined and smooth. The texture should be light and fluffy.

Step 4: Add Vanilla Extract
Next, stir in the vanilla extract. The aroma of vanilla will start to fill the air, and you’ll know you’re on the right track.

Step 5: Add Dry Ingredients
Now, gently add the flour and salt to the mixture, a little bit at a time. You’ll want to keep mixing until everything is fully incorporated, but don’t overmix. The dough will be soft and crumbly, which is exactly what you want!

Step 6: Incorporate the Walnuts
Fold in the toasted walnuts with a spatula. Be careful not to crush them too much—you want those walnut pieces to stay intact for that delightful crunch in every bite.

Step 7: Chill the Dough
Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes. Chilling the dough helps the cookies hold their shape while baking. It also makes the dough easier to roll into little balls.

Step 8: Roll Into Balls
Once the dough is chilled, take about a tablespoon of dough and roll it into a small ball between your hands. The cookies don’t spread much, so you can place them fairly close together on the baking sheet.

Step 9: Bake
Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the bottoms are lightly golden. Be careful not to overbake them—these cookies should be soft and tender, not crispy.

Step 10: Coat in Powdered Sugar
While the cookies are baking, set aside a small bowl of powdered sugar. Once the cookies are out of the oven, let them cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes. Then, while they’re still warm, gently roll them in the powdered sugar. You’ll want to give them a nice coating of sugar so they look like little snowballs!

Step 11: Cool and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack. They’ll firm up slightly as they cool, but they should still have that melt-in-your-mouth texture. If you want an extra dusting of powdered sugar, feel free to give them another roll once they’re fully cooled.