Crescent Nut Cookies

2 cups walnuts2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 lb (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup superfine sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup confectioners sugar for rolling cookies 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Place walnuts in a food processor and pulse until chopped, take 1 cup of chopped nuts and place in a bowl.  Continue to pulse remaining nuts until finely ground.

Combine flour, nuts, and salt in a bowl.  In a large bowl with a hand blender or standing mixer cream butter and sugar together, then add vanilla and slowly incorporate flour mixture.  Mix until just combined and fold the dough to finish mixing.

Form 1 1/2 tbsp. balls and roll each ball into a log about 2 1/2 inches long then form into a crescent shape and place on cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.  Bake for 16-17 minutes until just beginning to turn golden.

Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a couple of minutes before tranferring them to a cooling rack to cool completely.  Once the cookies are cooled they can be rolled gently in confectioners' sugar.