Things have been absolutely crazy around here the past two weeks. First my parents came to visit for 12 days and then just as they left we got hit with this massive ice storm in North Texas. And do you know what you do before you’re ‘iced’ in for 4 days straight and you might lose power? You do some holiday baking… and then eat it! I’m so glad that when my mom was visiting she taught me how to make one of our family’s traditional German Christmas recipes “NußEcken”, which literally translated means Nut Corners.
So this is the ‘original’ recipe card (well the front, the back is just a mix of German and English in my mom’s really difficult to read handwriting).
And what makes this sheet pan full of bars so good is all that butter in the crust and the topping. Mmmm…butter! And look at all those measurements my mom gives.. 150 grams, 1/3 lb, 10.5 Tbsp. Sheesh lady could you add one more? Well how about sticks?
Yep, because that’s the way I like to buy my butter. In sticks. And Land O’ Lakes Half Sticks are even better because when you don’t need a lot, you don’t have to open a lot and then what’s left stays fresh (plus they are so cute aren’t they?!) I found them in the dairy case at Walmart.
So here it is the Traditional Mueller Family NuessEcken {Nut Corners} Recipe. Enjoy!
NuessEcken
Make sure your rack is in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.
For the Crust:
2 ⅜ cups of flour (300 grams if you have a scale)
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
3/4 cup of sugar
2 1/2 Sticks of Land O’Lakes Half Sticks Butter (or measure 1/3 lb or 10.5 Tbsp), softened
2 eggs
4 oz. of Apricot Preserves
Measure flour, baking powder and sugar in a bowl. Add butter, then eggs. Mix together. (The recipe says to chill it for a while but my Mom says she never does, so you can, but you don’t have to). Roll dough out and pat into a greased 10×15″ jelly roll pan. Then spread the apricot preserves on the dough.
For the Topping:
1 Stick of Land O’Lakes Half Sticks Butter (or measure 4 Tbsp)
3 Tbsp of Honey
2 Tbsp of Sugar
2 tsp of Half & Half Cream
2 Cups of Slivered Almonds
Heat the butter, honey, sugar and cream until it just starts to get bubbly and the sugar is dissolved, fold in the almonds then spread the topping over the dough, bake for 30 minutes. While they are still warm cut them into squares and then into triangle wedges. <– Hence the “Nut Corners”. Cool completely on a rack and then store in an airtight container.
These are great for gift giving since they store well in the freezer, and they fit so darn great in a patterned Chinese Take Out Box! You can find more Holiday Recipes at Land O’ Lakes Website.
Do you have a favorite holiday baking recipe that uses butter?
Tammy Litke is a Dallas blogger, blogging since 2008. She loves to watch movies, play video games, spend time in the kitchen, and travel. Between recipes and reviews you’ll find many helpful and some just plain funny posts on her blog. Welcome, pull up a chair and stay for a while!
Ooh I can practically taste them! They look SO yummy.
Love Land O' Lakes butter. I have seriously noticed the difference when butter is the main ingredient in desserts. Gotta use the best! These look DELICIOUS!!!
I love making lots of things with butter. Especially my pumpkin rolls this time of year. This looks so yummy. I have never even heard of it before!
I have to tell you, looking at the pictures of the finished nut corners, I wouldn't think they were very easy to make! But your recipe makes it sound super simple! I am going to give this a try for our Christmas party!
I've never heard of these before but they look delicious!
Love the recipe. My mom makes something that looks very similar to yours. I'll have to find out what she calls it. She's Austrian. Awesome giveaway too!
I loved seeing your picture of her original recipe but was totally like what the heck, how much!? LOL! I love the marks on the butter sticks that make it so easy to know how much you need by cups or tablespoons.
Oh my goodness, those look delicious! I hope the ice storms go away soon.
Wow, this sounds like an amazing and unique recipe. Looks so delicious, thanks for sharing your family recipe.. that is so wonderful!
YUM!! I love that you shared the original recipe card, those are such a family treasure. 🙂
Your moms writing looks like my Grandmas! I love finding recipe cards like that.
I love that you have traditional recipes in your family. Those look so yummy. And I'm glad you converted it from grams to teaspoons or I'd be totally lost! 🙂
that recipe card made tears form immediately. those are the most treasured possessions i have, the cards my mom wrote out, or better, wrote notes on <3
I like baking sugar cookies.
These look so delicious and not what you see in every cookie exchange and stuff- I want to make some!
What an inventive way to use apricot. This sounds really good.
That looks really good. I'm going to show my son since they are learning about German Traditions in school for Christmas.
Butter makes EVERYTHING better! And don't you love having those recipes that have been handed down in your family's own handwriting? I have some of my Gram's (who is 85) and a couple of of her father's, also. It makes the food taste that much better knowing where it came from 🙂
YUM! These look amazing. I think I will add this to my cooking making on Saturday.
I have never heard of these before – but they sound delicious. I am going to pin them so I can try them later.
These look totally yummy! I had a friend growing up (she was in her 80s) and made these for us often.
YUM! Can I send you my address for a box or 2 of these. They look absolutely amazing.
That looks amazing and beautiful! I love the story too! #client
Ohhh we are getting snow tomorrow! These look so tasty to make with the kids. Thanks for sharing
Wow, those sound amazing!
I've never had anything like that before but it sure does look tasty.
I love the handwritten recipe!
My wife is the same way. Whenever she has nothing to do or the weather has us holed up, she heads to the kitchen and bakes.
those look delicious! thank you for the recipe