Iced Almond Leaf Cookies Food

ITALIAN ALMOND-ICED COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter 2 baking pans. In a bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt together. In a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment (or using a hand mixer), mix the eggs and sugar until pale yellow and fluffy. With the mixer running, drizzle in the oil, vanilla, almond extract and mix. Add the dry ingredients and mix just until combined. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Using your hands, form into logs 1-inch in diameter. Working in batches if necessary, cut into 3/4-inch-thick slices and arrange the cookies on the sheet pans. Bake until light golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on wire racks.
• Icing: In a medium bowl, whisk the milk, egg white, confectioners' sugar and almond extract until smooth. Divide the icing into one large and two smaller batches. Leave the large batch of icing white; color the other 2 to your liking.
• When the cookies are cool, dip the tops into the white icing. Use a fork or a squeeze bottle to drizzle the cookies with the other colors. Let set in a cool place 1 hour.

ICED ALMOND LEAF COOKIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, beat butter and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon of the almond extract and the egg. On low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until blended. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour or until firm yet pliable.
• Heat oven to 350°F. On lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with 3-inch leaf-shaped cutters. On ungreased cookie sheets, place cutouts 1 inch apart. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely.
• In large bowl, beat powdered sugar, meringue powder, 6 tablespoons of the water and remaining 1 teaspoon almond extract with electric mixer on low speed until blended. Tint 1/2 cup icing with brown paste food color. Cover tightly with plastic wrap; set aside. Stir remaining 1 tablespoon water into remaining icing. Divide and tint with desired paste food colors. Pipe or spread frosting onto cookies. Use reserved brown icing to outline and decorate leaves.