Chewy Almond Cookieswow Food

CHEWY FIG AND ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Line the bottom with an 8-by-20-inch piece of parchment paper, allowing the excess paper to hang over the sides.
• For the crust: Whisk the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl.
• Beat the sugar and butter using an electric hand mixer until combined in a large bowl. Beat in the egg, cream and vanilla until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and beat until the mixture forms into clumps. Press the clumps together to form a dough. Knead the dough for 30 seconds and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• For the filling: Place 1/4 cup water, the figs, orange juice, vanilla extract and orange zest in a food processor. Blend until the figs are finely ground, about 2 minutes. Add the almond butter and blend until incorporated. Add the almonds and pulse until combined.
• Remove the plastic from the dough and cut in half. Roll out 1 piece of dough into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle on a well-floured work surface. Cut the dough in half lengthwise and then in half crosswise to make 4 equal-size pieces of dough. Transfer the dough pieces to the prepared baking dish using a spatula, and arrange in a single layer. Pinch the edges of the dough together to seal. Spoon the filling onto the dough. Spread the filling evenly over the dough using damp hands. Smooth the top of the filling using a rubber spatula. Roll out the remaining dough into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle. Cut into 4 equal pieces and place on top of the filling, pinching the edges of the dough together to seal. Bake until golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Place the baking dish on a wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Using the excess parchment paper as handles, remove and place on a cutting board. Cut the cookie into twenty-four 1 1/2-inch-square pieces and serve.

CHEWY ALMOND COOKIES (MACAROONS)

Steps:

• Process almonds in a food processor 9 minutes or until a paste forms, stopping to scrape down sides.
• Beat egg whites at medium speed with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
• Combine almond paste, sugar, cardamom and cinnamon in a bowl, mixing with hands until blended.
• Add egg whites; knead by hand until smooth and doughlike consistency.
• Wet fingers with water, and shape dough into 1-inch balls (about 1 tablespoon dough for each cookie).
• Slightly flatten with thumb.
• Place cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Top each with almond sliver pressed in lightly.
• Bake on middle rack of oven at 325° for 15-20 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.
• Remove cookies immediately to wire racks; cool.

CHEWY CHERRY ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream together butter, brown sugar, sugar; add eggs and almond extract.
• Stir in dry ingredients and add cherries, nuts, and coconut.
• Drop from spoon on greased baking sheet.
• Bake at 350 for 11-13 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned.

CHEWY ALMOND MACAROON BISCUITS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line a large baking sheet with baking parchment. Put the ground almonds and sugar in a large mixing bowl and mix to combine.
• In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until foamy, then add to the almond and sugar mixture. Stir well - it will form a slightly sticky mixture but should hold its shape.
• Wet your hands lightly and roll a heaped teaspoon of the mixture into a ball between your palms - it should be about 4cm in diameter. Put on the tray and flatten slightly with wet fingers to a thick disc, leaving at least 3cm between each biscuit. Press a blanched almond into each one, if you like.
• Bake for 18-20 mins until just starting to turn golden around the edges, then remove from the oven and leave to cool on a wire rack. You want them to have a chewy, soft centre and the darker they get the harder the middle will be.
• To make cinnamon balls, add the cinnamon to the almonds and sugar before you add the egg white. When shaping, leave them as balls. Bake for 18-20 mins - you want them to stay soft in the centre. While they are still warm, put them gently in a bowl of icing sugar and turn to coat. Leave until completely cooled.