Basic Almond Cookie Dough Food

BASIC COOKIE DOUGH

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.

ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla, and almond extract. Sift the flour over the top, add the salt and the chopped almonds and fold to combine.
• Pull off little pieces of the dough and roll them into balls about 1-inch in diameter, enclosing a whole almond in the center of each one. Place on an ungreased baking sheet and bake on the center rack of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, until light brown. Transfer to racks to cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, roll 1/2 the cookies in the cocoa powder, and the remaining 1/2 in the confectioners' sugar. Serve warm or return to the rack to cool.

ALMOND COOKIES

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.

BASIC ALMOND COOKIE DOUGH

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.

LITTLE ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 170C/150C fan/gas 3 and roast the almonds for 5-10 mins until they are a pale golden colour. Cream together the butter, sugar, rum and a pinch of salt, then add the flour until the dough just comes together - it will be soft. Roughly chop the almonds and add them to the dough. Carefully roll out the dough on a well-floured surface to a 4-5mm thickness and cut out small cookies roughly 3-4cm across. Freeze the cookies on a baking sheet for 20 mins to harden.
• Bake the cookies in the oven for about 20 mins until just set - they will still be very pale. Lay out on a wire rack and dust icing sugar on both sides while they are still warm, being careful not to break them as you turn them. The icing sugar will melt. When they are cool, sprinkle them extremely generously with more icing sugar so that they are completely white. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.

ALMOND COOKIES I

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.