Out of all of the recipes I tested for Baked Occasions, the Derby Cookies were the one I kept making even though the recipe was solid. They’re fairly simple, and delicious. And there’s Bourbon!

I brought these to work several years ago, during recipe testing for the book. They were a big hit, and people kept requesting them, so I kept making them. They’re buttery, with ground walnuts in the dough, but what really makes them stand out is the crunchy Bourbon sugar coating.

I’m a Bourbon drinker, so I like to make these while sipping on an old fashioned. Okay – I like to do pretty much anything while sipping on an old fashioned. Use the good stuff for your drink – any decent Bourbon will work for the cookies. Right now my go-to is Old Bardstown since I can’t get my hands on any Black Maple Hill.

Make extra Bourbon sugar because that stuff is delicious and addictive! I want to put it in everything.

For the recipe and to see how the other Baked Sunday Mornings bakers fared, head over to Baked Sunday Mornings.

• Derby Cookies (Baked Occasions, p. 107)