Taste the blue cheese before seasoning; its salt level varies, so the added salt is deliberately minimal.
Sharp blue cheese and toasted walnut make compact savory buttons with a sandy, crumbly texture for a holiday appetizer board.
The recipe card lists measured ingredients, numbered steps, storage guidance, and a nutrition estimate when available. Total time includes the listed preparation, rest, baking, and cooling periods for this recipe.
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Blue Cheese Walnut Savory Shortbread Buttons Recipe
Follow the tray sizes, portions and baking intervals in the instructions below.
Total time includes hands-on preparation, required chilling or resting, whole-batch cooking, cooling and finishing.
Kitchen tools you’ll need
- mixer
- skillet
- parchment
- knife
- baking sheets
Ingredients
US measures are approximate. Gram weights help keep portions consistent; spice weights vary with density.
Instructions
Prepare the ingredients
- Prepare the ingredients: Beat butter and blue cheese until combined.
Cool and finish
- Cool and finish: Mix in flour, pepper and salt just until clumps form; fold through cooled chopped walnuts.
Chill the dough
- Chill the dough: Shape a 1 1/2-inch log and chill 2 hours.
Bake and set
- Bake and set: Slice 24 rounds, place on lined sheets and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 16–19 minutes until lightly golden at the edges.
Cool and finish
- Cool and finish: Cool completely before serving.
Chef’s Science & Pro Tips
Ingredient science
Toast walnuts lightly and cool before chopping to preserve their crunch.
Technique & texture
Do not overmix once the flour is added; a tender crumb is the goal.
Finishing & serving
Serve these savory buttons with fruit or alongside a cheese board, not as a sweet cookie.
Storage and make-ahead
| Method | How long | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature | up to 2 days | Airtight in a cool room up to 2 days. |
| Refrigeration | up to 5 days | Refrigerate airtight up to 5 days because of the cheese. serve at room temperature. |
| Raw freezing | up to 1 month | Freeze the wrapped dough log up to 1 month. slice while firm. |
| Baked freezing | up to 1 month | Freeze baked buttons airtight up to 1 month. |
| Restoring | As described | Thaw uncovered. refresh briefly in a low oven and cool before serving. |
Notes
- Scale ingredients, including US measures, without changing cookie size or oven temperature. Extra trays increase whole-batch time.
Nutrition
Approximate values per portion from the listed ingredient weights divided into 24 equal portions. Includes required fillings and finishes. Brands, unused coatings and actual portion size affect the estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these sweet?
No; these are savory shortbread-style appetizers with cheese and walnut.
Can I use goat cheese?
A firm aged goat cheese may work, but a fresh soft cheese adds too much moisture.
How should I serve them?
Pair with pear slices, grapes or a mild preserve on a savory platter.
Browse more cookie ideas in the Christmas Shortbread Cookies collection.
