Almond Butter Letters Recipes

HOMEMADE ALMOND BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the almonds on a rimmed baking sheet and bake, shaking the pan halfway through, until golden and fragrant, about 8 minutes. Transfer the almonds to a food processor and add 1/2 teaspoon salt, then process until it is a smooth paste, about 5 minutes. Add the honey and continue to process until combined. With the machine still running, slowly drizzle in 2 tablespoons oil. Thin if desired with the remaining tablespoon oil.

ALMOND BUTTER

Steps:

• Place the almonds in a food processor. Process on high until ground almonds begin to form a ball. Drizzle olive oil over almonds and continue to process, stopping occasionally to scrape sides of the bowl with a spatula as needed. Store in an airtight container.

DUTCH LETTERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat the almond paste, sugar, egg and extract until smooth. Divide into 4 portions. On lightly floured waxed paper, roll each portion into a 12x1/2-in. rope; set aside., In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. Divide into 4 portions. , On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion into a 14x6-in. rectangle. Place 1 almond paste rope in the center of each rectangle. Moisten long edges of dough; fold over filling. Press seam to seal; tuck in ends., Transfer seam side down to greased baking sheets; form each into an "S" shape. Whisk egg white and water; brush over dough. Using a fork, prick tops at 1-in. intervals to vent., Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks. To serve, cut into 2-in. pieces.

BUTTERY ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together flours, cornstarch, baking powder and salt.
• In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and granulated sugar until lightened in color and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in egg yolk and almond extract until combined, about 20 seconds. With the mixer running on low, add flour mixture, beating until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
• Divide dough into two balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball into a 1 1/2-inch-thick log. (If the dough is too soft to work with, chill it for 20 to 30 minutes before forming it into logs.) Wrap logs tightly in parchment paper or plastic wrap, and refrigerate until very firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• When you are ready to bake the cookies, heat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Use large, sharp knife to cut each log into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake until cookie edges and bottoms are golden brown, about 15 to 22 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the icing: In a large bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar, melted butter, 1 tablespoon buttermilk, vanilla and almond extracts. If the icing isn't thin enough to drizzle, add more buttermilk. It should be a little thicker than heavy cream.
• Using a fork, drizzle icing all over the cooled cookies, then top with almond slices if you like. Let the icing set for at least 1 hour, then store at room temperature in an airtight container. The cookies will keep for at least 3 days.