Almond Snowballs Food

MINI DATE-NUT SNOWBALLS

Steps:

• Spread the coconut on a plate. Put the dates, almonds, cinnamon and salt in a food processor and process until finely chopped.
• Form rounded 1/2 teaspoonfuls of the mixture into balls with your fingers, then roll in the coconut, pressing to coat.

ALMOND SNOWBALL COOKIES RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a 3/4 size cookie sheet or 2 regular cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, cream together 1/2 lb butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla, until smooth.
• Switch to paddle attachment and gradually mix in 2 cups all purpose flour and 1/2 tsp salt. Once incorporated, add 1 cup almond meal and 1/2 Tbsp orange zest and mix until well blended. The dough will stick slightly to the spatula but not to finger tips. If very sticky, add 1-2 Tbsp more flour.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls (a small ice cream scoop makes it easy and exact). Place them on prepared baking sheet 1 inch apart. You should get 38-40 cookies. Don't make them too large or they won't bake through properly. Bake 11-13 min, or until bottoms are golden and edges are barely golden (I bake 11 min for softer cookies). Remove from baking sheet and cool 5 min.
• Fill a bowl with powdered sugar and roll the cookies in it while they are still warm (not hot). Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool completely.
• Once cookies are at room temp, roll in powdered sugar again or dust the tops with a mini sieve for a snowy look.

ALMOND SNOWBALL COOKIES

Steps:

• Pulse the almonds and sugar in a food processor until very finely ground.
• Add the butter and process until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Scrape the dough off the inside of the bowl,If needed.
• Add the vanilla and almond extracts and pulse to combine.
• Add flour and salt and pulse to make a soft dough.
• Turn the dough out onto a large piece of waxed paper and roll into a log about 15 inches long and 1 and 1/2 inches wide.
• Wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cut the chilled dough into 1/2 inch pieces and roll by hand into balls.
• Space the cookies evenly on the prepated baking sheets until slightly golden, rotating the sheets once, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Put the confectioners sugar in a pie plate.
• Briefly cool the cookies on a rack, then gently toss in the confectioner's sugar until evenly coated.
• Return to rack, cool to room temperature and then toss again in the con- fectioners sugar.

ALMOND SNOWBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Beat or mix together flour, butter, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.
• Cut the almond paste into 1/2-inch slices, then cut slices into 1/4ths.
• Shape 1-inch ball of cookie dough around each piece of almond paste; roll gently and form a ball.
• Place 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until bottoms of cookies are golden brown.
• Remove to a wire rack.
• Cool for 30 minutes; dip tops into Almond Frosting, then into glitter or coarse sugar.

ALMOND SNOWBALL COOKIES

Steps:

• Pulse the almonds and sugar in a food processor until very finely ground. Add the butter and process until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape the dough off the inside of the bowl, if needed. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and pulse to combine. Add the flour and salt and pulse to make a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a large piece of waxed paper and roll into a log about 15 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cut the chilled dough into 1/2-inch pieces and roll by hand into balls. Space the cookies evenly on the prepared baking sheets and bake until slightly golden, rotating the sheets once, 15 to 20 minutes. Put the confectioners' sugar in a pie plate. Briefly cool the cookies on a rack, then gently toss in the confectioners' sugar until evenly coated. Return to rack, cool to room temperature, and then toss again in the confectioners' sugar.

ALMOND SNOWBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites and salt to soft peaks, then add sugar and beat again until peaks are stiff. Beat in almond flavoring. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in half of the coconut. Sprinkle in the nutmeg and flour, stir, then fold in the remaining coconut.
• Using a melon baller or other small scoop, or working with 2 spoons, form 9 "snowballs" a couple of inches apart on each of 2 cookie sheets. Bake snowballs 12 to 15 minutes, until lightly golden. Remove from oven and garnish each snowball with half a cherry and a couple of slivered almonds. Transfer to a rack or serving plate to cool.

CHERRY-ALMOND SNOWBALLS

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spread the almonds on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until slightly darkened, about 10 minutes; let cool completely. Transfer to a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add the flour and pulse to combine.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, the vanilla and almond extracts, and salt and beat until combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated. Cover and refrigerate until slightly firm, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the dried cherries, amaretto and 1 tablespoon water in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave 30 seconds; set aside until the cherries are plump, about 20 minutes.
• Scoop out a tablespoonful of dough, press a dried cherry into the center, then shape the dough into a ball, enclosing the cherry. Repeat with the remaining dough and cherries and arrange about 1 inch apart on 2 ungreased baking sheets. Bake, switching the position of the pans halfway through, until lightly golden on the bottom, 15 to 20 minutes. Put the remaining 1 cup confectioners' sugar in a large shallow bowl. Let the cookies cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets, then carefully transfer to the bowl with the sugar and gently toss. Transfer to racks to cool completely, then toss in the sugar again.

ALMOND SNOWBALL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F; have ready a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat liner.
• In a medium-sized mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt together just until they form soft peaks, then sprinkle in the sugar and continue beating until peaks are stiff.
• Add almond extract and give it a quick buzz with the beaters just to incorporate it.
• Now, with a wooden spoon (or rubber spatula), stir in half the coconut; then the nutmeg; then the flour; then finally fold in the remaining coconut.
• Using a scoop or just working with two spoons, form snowballs a couple of inches apart on your cookie sheets--I aim for about 10 and so keep them on one sheet; if you want more, you'll need more than one baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes (less time if you make small ones) or until the snowballs are just a light golden colour.
• Remove from oven and, if desired, press half of a candied red cherry in the top; it looks pretty but it isn't necessary.
• Remove to a cooling rack and let cool.

ALMOND SNOWBALL COOKIES

Steps:

• Pulse the almonds and sugar in a food processor until very finely ground. Add the butter and process until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape the dough off the inside of the bowl, if needed. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and pulse to combine. Add the flour and salt and pulse to make a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a large piece of waxed paper and roll into a log about 15 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cut the chilled dough into 1/2-inch pieces and roll by hand into balls. Space the cookies evenly on the prepared baking sheets and bake until slightly golden, rotating the sheets once, 15 to 20 minutes. Put the confectioners' sugar in a pie plate. Briefly cool the cookies on a rack, then gently toss in the confectioners' sugar until evenly coated. Return to rack, cool to room temperature, and then toss again in the confectioners' sugar.

TOASTED ALMOND SNOWBALLS

Steps:

• In a medium skillet over medium heat, toast the almond flour, stirring constantly, until golden brown and fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Immediately pour flour into a small bowl to cool. Watch carefully: Once the flour begins to toast, it will happen very quickly.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a handheld electric mixer, beat butter and 1 cup confectioners' sugar on low speed until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Beat in egg yolk, brandy and almond extract until well combined.
• Reduce speed to low and gradually add all-purpose flour, salt and toasted almond flour until just incorporated.
• Scrape the dough into an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• When ready to bake, heat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Using your hands, roll dough into 1-inch balls and place balls 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 18 minutes, until cookies begin to brown at edges. Rotate cookie sheets halfway through for even baking.
• Place 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar into a sieve. As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, sift a thick layer of confectioners' sugar over the tops. Once cookies are cool, put remaining 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar (plus any sugar in the sieve) into a shallow bowl and toss cookies again in confectioners' sugar.

ALMOND SNOWBALLS

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake almonds in a single layer in a shallow pan 6 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Cool completely (about 20 minutes). Reduce oven temperature to 325°.
• 2. Process almonds in a food processor 30 seconds or until finely ground. 3. Beat butter at medium speed with a heavy-duty electric stand mixer until creamy. Gradually add vanilla and 1 cup powdered sugar, beating well. (Dough will be crumbly.)
• 3. Combine flour, salt, and almonds; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended.
• 4. Shape dough into 3/4-inch balls, and place 2 inches apart on parchment paper-lined baking sheets.
• 5. Bake at 325° for 12 to 15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 2 minutes. Transfer to wire racks, and cool 10 minutes. Roll cookies in 1/2 cup powdered sugar.