Almond Cookies

from Family Circle

Almond Cookies
Servings: 30 Yield: 2-1/2 dozen cookies Chill 15 mins Bake 375°F 9 mins to 11 mins

Ingredients

Cookies:
  • 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract
  • Paste food colors OR soft gel paste food colors
Royal Icing:
  • 3 tablespoons meringue powder OR powdered egg whites
  • 4 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
  • 6 teaspoons water

Make It

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Mix flour, baking powder and salt in bowl.

2. Beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Add sugar; beat until fluffy, 2 minutes. Beat in egg and extract. On low speed, beat in flour mixture until dough forms.

3. Pat dough into 1-inch thick disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Chill 15 minutes.

4. Roll out dough on floured surface with floured rolling pin to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out cookies with 3-inch cutters. Place on ungreased baking sheets. Reroll scraps; cut more.

5. Bake in 375 degrees F oven 9 to 11 minutes, until lightly browned at edges. Cool on sheets set on racks 2 minutes. Remove cookies to racks to cool.

6. With fine-tipped paintbrush, coat cookies with thinned icing. Let dry. Pipe on thicker icing with writing tip.

Royal Icing:

7. Beat meringue powder or powdered egg whites, confectioners sugar, sifted, and water in bowl until peaks form, 10 minutes (makes 3 cups). Base coat: Thin half of icing with water, a drop at a time, until sour cream consistency. Use thicker icing for piping. Tint icing with food colors; keep covered.

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