Odense Almond Paste Cookie Food

DOUBLE ALMOND BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment.
• Grate almond paste and butter into a medium bowl.
• Add sugar, flour, baking powder and salt and mix with fork until crumbly (I used my mixer) and stir in almonds.
• Whisk together egg whites and vanilla and add to mixture (I did not combine them first) and mix until dough holds together.
• Turn out onto a lightly floured counter (dough is quite sticky) roll into 2 inch thick log (my roll was wider than 2 inches at this point).
• Cut into 2 pieces; roll each 10 inches long and flatten to 3/4 inches.
• Transfer to ungreased or parchment lined sheets and bake 35 minutes until golden.
• Cool sheets on rack for 10 minutes and then slice into 3/4-inch diagonal slices (I used a serrated knife and it worked well).
• Return to cookie sheet, cut side down and bake 12 minutes: flip and bake 12 minutes more (I would reduce oven temp next time for this step since mine browned quickly and I baked mine a few minutes longer since my biscotti were larger).
• Cool completely on racks and store in air-tight container (I think they looked great in a clear jar on the counter).

PIGNOLI COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F; line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil.
• Combine grated almond paste, granulated and powdered sugars in a bowl. Beat on low with electric mixer until texture of small crumbs.
• Add egg whites and vanilla. Beat on high for 3 minutes or until the consistency of a smooth paste.
• Add flour and salt. Mix until just combined. Cover and refrigerate for one hour.
• Add pine nuts to a shallow bowl. Drop batter one teaspoon at a time into nuts. With slightly dampened fingertips, quickly lift and flip batter "no-nuts" side down onto cookie sheet.
• Bake 14-16 minutes or until light golden. Gently slide parchment paper off of pans onto wire racks. When cookies are completely cooled, remove from parchment. Store cookies in airtight containers between wax paper.