Basic Almond Cookie Dough Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• In large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg, amaretto, and almonds. Gradually mix in the flour until well blended. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
• Bake 5 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cookies are lightly colored.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream the shortening, 1/2 cup sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extract. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. , Shape into 1-in. balls. Roll in remaining sugar. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with the bottom of a glass. Press three almond slices into the center of each. , Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C). Spread the almonds onto a baking sheet, and toast until the nuts start to turn golden brown and become fragrant, about 45 minutes. Watch the nuts carefully as they bake, they burn quickly. Once toasted, set the nuts aside to cool to room temperature. Finely grind the almonds in a food processor.
• Raise oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Oil a baking sheet with vegetable oil.
• In a bowl, mix together the ground almonds, oat flour, maple syrup, and almond extract. Form the mixture into 6 balls, then flatten the balls into cookies about 1/4 inch thick. Place cookies onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake until crisp and brown around the edges, 12 to 15 minutes; watch them carefully because they burn easily. Remove the cookies carefully, and allow to cool.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk 7-1/2 cups flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture, adding more flour if necessary. Divide dough into four 2-cup portions. Refrigerate, covered, until needed., Basic Cookie Dough may be used to prepare the following recipes: Crumb-Topped Date Bars, Cherry Surprise Cookies, Chocolate Mallow Cookies or Jelly Sandwich Cookies.

Steps:

• 1. Stir flour, almond, sugars and powder. Add butter to crumb, then add egg and vanilla. Turn onto a work surface and knead until smooth. Refrigerate wrapped in plastic, 2 hours. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll half the dough to 1/8" thick between 2 sheets of waxed paper. Cut or shape as desired, leaving unused dough in fridge. Place an inch apart on lightly greased cookie sheets, bake 6-20 min. Cookie is done when firm to the touch and the edges are lightly browned. Store in airtight containers.
• 2. Walnut wreaths: Substitute 1/2 cup ground walnuts for almonds. Roll dough into 7 inch long rope, twist together in twos to form circles. Pinch ends to seal. Press walnuts into alternating sections of each wreath, press in red and green candied cherry pieces to look like bows. Bake 10-12 minutes, cool and sprinkle plain ends with powdered sugar.
• 3. Dutch Chocolate Sandwiches: Roll out dough, cut into 2 1/2 x 1 1/2 inch rectangles or 3 inch stars. Bake 6-7 minutes, cool. Spread half the cookies with 1 teaspoon of any flavor preserves. Top with remaining cookies. Dip each halfway into melted milk chocolate to coat.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together flours, cornstarch, baking powder and salt.
• In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and granulated sugar until lightened in color and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in egg yolk and almond extract until combined, about 20 seconds. With the mixer running on low, add flour mixture, beating until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
• Divide dough into two balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball into a 1 1/2-inch-thick log. (If the dough is too soft to work with, chill it for 20 to 30 minutes before forming it into logs.) Wrap logs tightly in parchment paper or plastic wrap, and refrigerate until very firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• When you are ready to bake the cookies, heat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Use large, sharp knife to cut each log into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake until cookie edges and bottoms are golden brown, about 15 to 22 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the icing: In a large bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar, melted butter, 1 tablespoon buttermilk, vanilla and almond extracts. If the icing isn't thin enough to drizzle, add more buttermilk. It should be a little thicker than heavy cream.
• Using a fork, drizzle icing all over the cooled cookies, then top with almond slices if you like. Let the icing set for at least 1 hour, then store at room temperature in an airtight container. The cookies will keep for at least 3 days.