You know you’ve made it when you’re invited to an exclusive, annual all-day baking party! I originally was going to make rugelach, but that was going to take forever. Luckily, there was a lot of drinking happening at this party, so there was rum available for this one.

I was having so much fun that I forgot to take pictures of the host, Lisa, or any of the other guests! I’m terrible. 

Well, I couldn’t get away with omitting walnuts this time. Hmph.

Step 1: Chop up the walnuts. 

It was nice to have a cleaver so I could really express my hatred for walnuts.

Step 2: Threaten your friend because she didn’t measure out the ingredients for you. 

Don’t worry, there was no damage done to Sam’s neck.

I measured the rum with my eyes. That’s how professionals measure, right?

Step 3: Gather ingredients: brown sugar, walnuts, more walnuts, rum, eggs, salt, butter, flour.

Step 4: Beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. 

Step 5: Add eggs, rum, and salt.

We’ll show the only picture that matters here.

Step 6: Add flour. 

Step 7: Add finely chopped walnuts. 

This is Avalon. She’s not a car.

Step 8: Drop dough onto parchment-lined baking sheets. 

Sticky and annoying.

Step 9: After baking for 4 minutes, remove from oven and sprinkle tops with coarsely chopped walnuts. 

Step 10: Bake until golden brown around the edges. 

Well, that’s a little more than golden. The oven had been running for 6 hours, so it was a little warm.

Lisa yelled “DOUBLE THE RECIPE!” at me, so there were a ton of these. I got tired of it, so I asked made Sam do some too.

Note to self: do not use hot baking sheets for your next batch even if you just want to get it over with. Your cookies melt. Exhibit A:

Though ugly, and walnutty, these were well-received.

Link to original recipe

Yields: 8 dozen (this is doubled)
I got: About 8 dozen (did not count)

Start time: 3:45
End time: 5:15 (1 hour, 30 minutes)
Martha’s estimated time: 40 minutes (I get credit for doubling, right?)

What did I learn?

• Don’t use hot cookie sheets for the next batch.
• It is difficult to bake and cool your cookies when every surface area of the house (including the washer and dryer) are covered with other baked goods.

What do I need to learn?

• When is the next baking party?

I went home with so many confections, it almost filled up a laundry basket. See this picture? Sam and I are sick from eating so much. The stuff in the picture is probably only 1/8 of it!

I had a lot of fun and am grateful for being invited! Can’t wait for the next one!