My Russian Teacakes are too crumbly












5















I am making Russian Teacakes. They have been refrigerated per the recipe for approximately 4 hours. I cannot roll the Teacakes into balls as the dough is too crumbly. Help!










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  • 2





    Welcome to Seasoned Advice! Could you share the recipe you're using? It will be hard for others to offer advice otherwise.

    – mech
    Dec 17 '18 at 22:12
















5















I am making Russian Teacakes. They have been refrigerated per the recipe for approximately 4 hours. I cannot roll the Teacakes into balls as the dough is too crumbly. Help!










share|improve this question


















  • 2





    Welcome to Seasoned Advice! Could you share the recipe you're using? It will be hard for others to offer advice otherwise.

    – mech
    Dec 17 '18 at 22:12














5












5








5








I am making Russian Teacakes. They have been refrigerated per the recipe for approximately 4 hours. I cannot roll the Teacakes into balls as the dough is too crumbly. Help!










share|improve this question














I am making Russian Teacakes. They have been refrigerated per the recipe for approximately 4 hours. I cannot roll the Teacakes into balls as the dough is too crumbly. Help!







cookies






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asked Dec 17 '18 at 22:02









SuzanneSuzanne

261




261








  • 2





    Welcome to Seasoned Advice! Could you share the recipe you're using? It will be hard for others to offer advice otherwise.

    – mech
    Dec 17 '18 at 22:12














  • 2





    Welcome to Seasoned Advice! Could you share the recipe you're using? It will be hard for others to offer advice otherwise.

    – mech
    Dec 17 '18 at 22:12








2




2





Welcome to Seasoned Advice! Could you share the recipe you're using? It will be hard for others to offer advice otherwise.

– mech
Dec 17 '18 at 22:12





Welcome to Seasoned Advice! Could you share the recipe you're using? It will be hard for others to offer advice otherwise.

– mech
Dec 17 '18 at 22:12










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















5














In the Russian teacake recipes I have seen, there are four main ingredients:




  • flour

  • butter

  • nuts

  • powdered sugar


If you cannot get your cookies to bind, you need to add more butter (the only ingredient with moisture). If you are refrigerating your dough, make sure to cover it so it does not dry out.






share|improve this answer
























  • Those are the ingredients in my recipe, and I have the dough covered.

    – Suzanne
    Dec 17 '18 at 22:33






  • 2





    You missed the important bit: add more butter @Suzanne Please feed back after you've tried and if this answer helped, please don't forget to accept it... ;-)

    – Fabby
    Dec 17 '18 at 23:58





















5














If you do not let this sort of dough warm up a bit after refrigerating, it will frequently crumble. Let the dough sit on the counter for 10-15 minutes and see if it's workable then. I sometimes let a dough like this come nearly all the way back up to room temperature in order to be able to shape it.



If after letting it warm back up, it's still too crumbly to shape, then add a little bit more butter, like mattm suggested.






share|improve this answer































    3














    Funny you ask this question; I just finished making Russian tea-cakes. A bit of vanilla flavouring helps; I usually put in around 2 teaspoons for a batch of 40 (equivalent to 1 cup of butter and 3/4 cup of confectioner's sugar, if my memory serves me).



    The trick that I use, which really helps, though, is actually a technique in rolling. We generally think that the way to make roll cookies is to take a blob of batter and simply roll it between the palms of one's hands. This technique works very poorly for Russian Tea Cakes, however, even if the batter is moist enough to work.



    It works much better to take a blob of batter of the correct size to make a cookie and squash it flat between the palms of the hands. With the palms squashed against each other, start rolling them around as though you were rolling a cookie, but with your hands virtually touching each other. Slowly release the pressure while continuing to roll until the cookie is round and smooth, and voila!



    The advantage of this technique actually also has a hidden benefit: the cookies (form my experience) tend to disintegrate less while coating them in icing sugar after cooking.






    share|improve this answer

































      -1














      Your dough is missing liquid. While the recipes frequently don't list any liquid, if it won't come together, you have to add a few drops (!) for it to form a workable ball.



      The amount you need is really tiny. I usually take a teaspoon, fill it half, drizzle it in, and knead for several minutes until I have seen a change in the dough. Only if the dough is still tearing instead of sticking after that do I add a second half teaspoon. If you have a pipette handy, that might work even better. Remember, you want to have the least amount of liquid you can get away with, and you can never take out water after you have added it, so go very cautious with it.






      share|improve this answer
























      • @KristinaLopez I have frequently made Russian tea cakes, and other cookies from a similar dough. You are right that it doesn't need extra kneading the way bread does, but it should be worked sufficiently to get a homogenous mass, and that is noticeably longer than with some other types of cookie. Also, there isn't much risk of real toughening here, because you shorten it considerably.

        – rumtscho
        Dec 19 '18 at 11:22











      • The choice of words was deliberate in this case - the danger of the OP underkneading and adding more water too soon willl make the cookie texture much, much worse than if the OP "overkneads". Also, kneading for several minutes does not make this cookie type tough. I do it often, and they are still fall apart tender.

        – rumtscho
        Dec 19 '18 at 13:46











      Your Answer








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      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes








      4 Answers
      4






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      5














      In the Russian teacake recipes I have seen, there are four main ingredients:




      • flour

      • butter

      • nuts

      • powdered sugar


      If you cannot get your cookies to bind, you need to add more butter (the only ingredient with moisture). If you are refrigerating your dough, make sure to cover it so it does not dry out.






      share|improve this answer
























      • Those are the ingredients in my recipe, and I have the dough covered.

        – Suzanne
        Dec 17 '18 at 22:33






      • 2





        You missed the important bit: add more butter @Suzanne Please feed back after you've tried and if this answer helped, please don't forget to accept it... ;-)

        – Fabby
        Dec 17 '18 at 23:58


















      5














      In the Russian teacake recipes I have seen, there are four main ingredients:




      • flour

      • butter

      • nuts

      • powdered sugar


      If you cannot get your cookies to bind, you need to add more butter (the only ingredient with moisture). If you are refrigerating your dough, make sure to cover it so it does not dry out.






      share|improve this answer
























      • Those are the ingredients in my recipe, and I have the dough covered.

        – Suzanne
        Dec 17 '18 at 22:33






      • 2





        You missed the important bit: add more butter @Suzanne Please feed back after you've tried and if this answer helped, please don't forget to accept it... ;-)

        – Fabby
        Dec 17 '18 at 23:58
















      5












      5








      5







      In the Russian teacake recipes I have seen, there are four main ingredients:




      • flour

      • butter

      • nuts

      • powdered sugar


      If you cannot get your cookies to bind, you need to add more butter (the only ingredient with moisture). If you are refrigerating your dough, make sure to cover it so it does not dry out.






      share|improve this answer













      In the Russian teacake recipes I have seen, there are four main ingredients:




      • flour

      • butter

      • nuts

      • powdered sugar


      If you cannot get your cookies to bind, you need to add more butter (the only ingredient with moisture). If you are refrigerating your dough, make sure to cover it so it does not dry out.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered Dec 17 '18 at 22:12









      mattmmattm

      1,8361122




      1,8361122













      • Those are the ingredients in my recipe, and I have the dough covered.

        – Suzanne
        Dec 17 '18 at 22:33






      • 2





        You missed the important bit: add more butter @Suzanne Please feed back after you've tried and if this answer helped, please don't forget to accept it... ;-)

        – Fabby
        Dec 17 '18 at 23:58





















      • Those are the ingredients in my recipe, and I have the dough covered.

        – Suzanne
        Dec 17 '18 at 22:33






      • 2





        You missed the important bit: add more butter @Suzanne Please feed back after you've tried and if this answer helped, please don't forget to accept it... ;-)

        – Fabby
        Dec 17 '18 at 23:58



















      Those are the ingredients in my recipe, and I have the dough covered.

      – Suzanne
      Dec 17 '18 at 22:33





      Those are the ingredients in my recipe, and I have the dough covered.

      – Suzanne
      Dec 17 '18 at 22:33




      2




      2





      You missed the important bit: add more butter @Suzanne Please feed back after you've tried and if this answer helped, please don't forget to accept it... ;-)

      – Fabby
      Dec 17 '18 at 23:58







      You missed the important bit: add more butter @Suzanne Please feed back after you've tried and if this answer helped, please don't forget to accept it... ;-)

      – Fabby
      Dec 17 '18 at 23:58















      5














      If you do not let this sort of dough warm up a bit after refrigerating, it will frequently crumble. Let the dough sit on the counter for 10-15 minutes and see if it's workable then. I sometimes let a dough like this come nearly all the way back up to room temperature in order to be able to shape it.



      If after letting it warm back up, it's still too crumbly to shape, then add a little bit more butter, like mattm suggested.






      share|improve this answer




























        5














        If you do not let this sort of dough warm up a bit after refrigerating, it will frequently crumble. Let the dough sit on the counter for 10-15 minutes and see if it's workable then. I sometimes let a dough like this come nearly all the way back up to room temperature in order to be able to shape it.



        If after letting it warm back up, it's still too crumbly to shape, then add a little bit more butter, like mattm suggested.






        share|improve this answer


























          5












          5








          5







          If you do not let this sort of dough warm up a bit after refrigerating, it will frequently crumble. Let the dough sit on the counter for 10-15 minutes and see if it's workable then. I sometimes let a dough like this come nearly all the way back up to room temperature in order to be able to shape it.



          If after letting it warm back up, it's still too crumbly to shape, then add a little bit more butter, like mattm suggested.






          share|improve this answer













          If you do not let this sort of dough warm up a bit after refrigerating, it will frequently crumble. Let the dough sit on the counter for 10-15 minutes and see if it's workable then. I sometimes let a dough like this come nearly all the way back up to room temperature in order to be able to shape it.



          If after letting it warm back up, it's still too crumbly to shape, then add a little bit more butter, like mattm suggested.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Dec 17 '18 at 22:48









          GuildensternGuildenstern

          39114




          39114























              3














              Funny you ask this question; I just finished making Russian tea-cakes. A bit of vanilla flavouring helps; I usually put in around 2 teaspoons for a batch of 40 (equivalent to 1 cup of butter and 3/4 cup of confectioner's sugar, if my memory serves me).



              The trick that I use, which really helps, though, is actually a technique in rolling. We generally think that the way to make roll cookies is to take a blob of batter and simply roll it between the palms of one's hands. This technique works very poorly for Russian Tea Cakes, however, even if the batter is moist enough to work.



              It works much better to take a blob of batter of the correct size to make a cookie and squash it flat between the palms of the hands. With the palms squashed against each other, start rolling them around as though you were rolling a cookie, but with your hands virtually touching each other. Slowly release the pressure while continuing to roll until the cookie is round and smooth, and voila!



              The advantage of this technique actually also has a hidden benefit: the cookies (form my experience) tend to disintegrate less while coating them in icing sugar after cooking.






              share|improve this answer






























                3














                Funny you ask this question; I just finished making Russian tea-cakes. A bit of vanilla flavouring helps; I usually put in around 2 teaspoons for a batch of 40 (equivalent to 1 cup of butter and 3/4 cup of confectioner's sugar, if my memory serves me).



                The trick that I use, which really helps, though, is actually a technique in rolling. We generally think that the way to make roll cookies is to take a blob of batter and simply roll it between the palms of one's hands. This technique works very poorly for Russian Tea Cakes, however, even if the batter is moist enough to work.



                It works much better to take a blob of batter of the correct size to make a cookie and squash it flat between the palms of the hands. With the palms squashed against each other, start rolling them around as though you were rolling a cookie, but with your hands virtually touching each other. Slowly release the pressure while continuing to roll until the cookie is round and smooth, and voila!



                The advantage of this technique actually also has a hidden benefit: the cookies (form my experience) tend to disintegrate less while coating them in icing sugar after cooking.






                share|improve this answer




























                  3












                  3








                  3







                  Funny you ask this question; I just finished making Russian tea-cakes. A bit of vanilla flavouring helps; I usually put in around 2 teaspoons for a batch of 40 (equivalent to 1 cup of butter and 3/4 cup of confectioner's sugar, if my memory serves me).



                  The trick that I use, which really helps, though, is actually a technique in rolling. We generally think that the way to make roll cookies is to take a blob of batter and simply roll it between the palms of one's hands. This technique works very poorly for Russian Tea Cakes, however, even if the batter is moist enough to work.



                  It works much better to take a blob of batter of the correct size to make a cookie and squash it flat between the palms of the hands. With the palms squashed against each other, start rolling them around as though you were rolling a cookie, but with your hands virtually touching each other. Slowly release the pressure while continuing to roll until the cookie is round and smooth, and voila!



                  The advantage of this technique actually also has a hidden benefit: the cookies (form my experience) tend to disintegrate less while coating them in icing sugar after cooking.






                  share|improve this answer















                  Funny you ask this question; I just finished making Russian tea-cakes. A bit of vanilla flavouring helps; I usually put in around 2 teaspoons for a batch of 40 (equivalent to 1 cup of butter and 3/4 cup of confectioner's sugar, if my memory serves me).



                  The trick that I use, which really helps, though, is actually a technique in rolling. We generally think that the way to make roll cookies is to take a blob of batter and simply roll it between the palms of one's hands. This technique works very poorly for Russian Tea Cakes, however, even if the batter is moist enough to work.



                  It works much better to take a blob of batter of the correct size to make a cookie and squash it flat between the palms of the hands. With the palms squashed against each other, start rolling them around as though you were rolling a cookie, but with your hands virtually touching each other. Slowly release the pressure while continuing to roll until the cookie is round and smooth, and voila!



                  The advantage of this technique actually also has a hidden benefit: the cookies (form my experience) tend to disintegrate less while coating them in icing sugar after cooking.







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited Dec 31 '18 at 12:08

























                  answered Dec 18 '18 at 0:20









                  anonymous2anonymous2

                  1714




                  1714























                      -1














                      Your dough is missing liquid. While the recipes frequently don't list any liquid, if it won't come together, you have to add a few drops (!) for it to form a workable ball.



                      The amount you need is really tiny. I usually take a teaspoon, fill it half, drizzle it in, and knead for several minutes until I have seen a change in the dough. Only if the dough is still tearing instead of sticking after that do I add a second half teaspoon. If you have a pipette handy, that might work even better. Remember, you want to have the least amount of liquid you can get away with, and you can never take out water after you have added it, so go very cautious with it.






                      share|improve this answer
























                      • @KristinaLopez I have frequently made Russian tea cakes, and other cookies from a similar dough. You are right that it doesn't need extra kneading the way bread does, but it should be worked sufficiently to get a homogenous mass, and that is noticeably longer than with some other types of cookie. Also, there isn't much risk of real toughening here, because you shorten it considerably.

                        – rumtscho
                        Dec 19 '18 at 11:22











                      • The choice of words was deliberate in this case - the danger of the OP underkneading and adding more water too soon willl make the cookie texture much, much worse than if the OP "overkneads". Also, kneading for several minutes does not make this cookie type tough. I do it often, and they are still fall apart tender.

                        – rumtscho
                        Dec 19 '18 at 13:46
















                      -1














                      Your dough is missing liquid. While the recipes frequently don't list any liquid, if it won't come together, you have to add a few drops (!) for it to form a workable ball.



                      The amount you need is really tiny. I usually take a teaspoon, fill it half, drizzle it in, and knead for several minutes until I have seen a change in the dough. Only if the dough is still tearing instead of sticking after that do I add a second half teaspoon. If you have a pipette handy, that might work even better. Remember, you want to have the least amount of liquid you can get away with, and you can never take out water after you have added it, so go very cautious with it.






                      share|improve this answer
























                      • @KristinaLopez I have frequently made Russian tea cakes, and other cookies from a similar dough. You are right that it doesn't need extra kneading the way bread does, but it should be worked sufficiently to get a homogenous mass, and that is noticeably longer than with some other types of cookie. Also, there isn't much risk of real toughening here, because you shorten it considerably.

                        – rumtscho
                        Dec 19 '18 at 11:22











                      • The choice of words was deliberate in this case - the danger of the OP underkneading and adding more water too soon willl make the cookie texture much, much worse than if the OP "overkneads". Also, kneading for several minutes does not make this cookie type tough. I do it often, and they are still fall apart tender.

                        – rumtscho
                        Dec 19 '18 at 13:46














                      -1












                      -1








                      -1







                      Your dough is missing liquid. While the recipes frequently don't list any liquid, if it won't come together, you have to add a few drops (!) for it to form a workable ball.



                      The amount you need is really tiny. I usually take a teaspoon, fill it half, drizzle it in, and knead for several minutes until I have seen a change in the dough. Only if the dough is still tearing instead of sticking after that do I add a second half teaspoon. If you have a pipette handy, that might work even better. Remember, you want to have the least amount of liquid you can get away with, and you can never take out water after you have added it, so go very cautious with it.






                      share|improve this answer













                      Your dough is missing liquid. While the recipes frequently don't list any liquid, if it won't come together, you have to add a few drops (!) for it to form a workable ball.



                      The amount you need is really tiny. I usually take a teaspoon, fill it half, drizzle it in, and knead for several minutes until I have seen a change in the dough. Only if the dough is still tearing instead of sticking after that do I add a second half teaspoon. If you have a pipette handy, that might work even better. Remember, you want to have the least amount of liquid you can get away with, and you can never take out water after you have added it, so go very cautious with it.







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered Dec 18 '18 at 11:05









                      rumtschorumtscho

                      80.4k27188353




                      80.4k27188353













                      • @KristinaLopez I have frequently made Russian tea cakes, and other cookies from a similar dough. You are right that it doesn't need extra kneading the way bread does, but it should be worked sufficiently to get a homogenous mass, and that is noticeably longer than with some other types of cookie. Also, there isn't much risk of real toughening here, because you shorten it considerably.

                        – rumtscho
                        Dec 19 '18 at 11:22











                      • The choice of words was deliberate in this case - the danger of the OP underkneading and adding more water too soon willl make the cookie texture much, much worse than if the OP "overkneads". Also, kneading for several minutes does not make this cookie type tough. I do it often, and they are still fall apart tender.

                        – rumtscho
                        Dec 19 '18 at 13:46



















                      • @KristinaLopez I have frequently made Russian tea cakes, and other cookies from a similar dough. You are right that it doesn't need extra kneading the way bread does, but it should be worked sufficiently to get a homogenous mass, and that is noticeably longer than with some other types of cookie. Also, there isn't much risk of real toughening here, because you shorten it considerably.

                        – rumtscho
                        Dec 19 '18 at 11:22











                      • The choice of words was deliberate in this case - the danger of the OP underkneading and adding more water too soon willl make the cookie texture much, much worse than if the OP "overkneads". Also, kneading for several minutes does not make this cookie type tough. I do it often, and they are still fall apart tender.

                        – rumtscho
                        Dec 19 '18 at 13:46

















                      @KristinaLopez I have frequently made Russian tea cakes, and other cookies from a similar dough. You are right that it doesn't need extra kneading the way bread does, but it should be worked sufficiently to get a homogenous mass, and that is noticeably longer than with some other types of cookie. Also, there isn't much risk of real toughening here, because you shorten it considerably.

                      – rumtscho
                      Dec 19 '18 at 11:22





                      @KristinaLopez I have frequently made Russian tea cakes, and other cookies from a similar dough. You are right that it doesn't need extra kneading the way bread does, but it should be worked sufficiently to get a homogenous mass, and that is noticeably longer than with some other types of cookie. Also, there isn't much risk of real toughening here, because you shorten it considerably.

                      – rumtscho
                      Dec 19 '18 at 11:22













                      The choice of words was deliberate in this case - the danger of the OP underkneading and adding more water too soon willl make the cookie texture much, much worse than if the OP "overkneads". Also, kneading for several minutes does not make this cookie type tough. I do it often, and they are still fall apart tender.

                      – rumtscho
                      Dec 19 '18 at 13:46





                      The choice of words was deliberate in this case - the danger of the OP underkneading and adding more water too soon willl make the cookie texture much, much worse than if the OP "overkneads". Also, kneading for several minutes does not make this cookie type tough. I do it often, and they are still fall apart tender.

                      – rumtscho
                      Dec 19 '18 at 13:46


















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