Almond Shortbread Shamrock Cookies Recipes

ALMOND SHORTBREAD I

Steps:

• In a large bowl, beat butter with 1/2 cup sugar and almond extract until light and fluffy. With a wooden spoon, stir in flour until smooth and well combined. Divide dough into 2 parts. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• On lightly sugared surface, roll out dough, one part at a time, about 1/2-inch thick. Cut out cookies with a 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter. Place on ungreased cookie sheet 1 inch apart. Make an indentation in the center of each cookie with the end of a wooden spoon.
• Bake in preheated oven until cookies are light golden brown around the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. While still warm, roll in sugar. Cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an air-tight container.

ALMOND SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the beaten egg and extract. Add the flour, ground almonds and lemon zest and mix until the dough comes together.
• Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead into a ball. Divide the dough in half and then roll each half into a log, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap each log in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour (the dough can be frozen at this point for a later use).
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Remove the dough from the plastic wrap and slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place the cookies onto the prepared baking sheets and bake until golden brown at the edges, about 15 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 3 or 4 minutes before transferring to wire cooling racks to cool completely, or just eat warm from the oven.

ALMOND SHORTBREAD SHAMROCK COOKIES

Steps:

• Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or foil. With a mixer, beat butter on high for 3 minutes or until very soft and light in color. Add grated almond paste and sugar, mix on low speed until combined. Turn mixer to high and beat a full 5 minutes or more, until just combined. Spoon 1/2 of dough onto a 15-inch long piece of wax paper. With hands, press dough out to 1/4-inch thickness. Top with wax paper. Lightly smooth top with rolling pin, keeping wax paper in place, lay dough on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining half of dough. Chill for 1 hour to firm.
• Preheat oven to 325°F shortly before removing dough from chilling in the fridge. Work with 1 piece of dough at a time, keeping other half chilled. Cut out the cookie sheets, shamrocks or other shapes. Place on cookie sheets 2-inches apart, dipping cutters in flour if sticking. Repeat until dough is used. Keep unbaked cookies chilled till ready to bake.
• Bake plain or brush tops with milk and sprinkle with colored sugar. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until cookies are firm and bottoms are very light golden. Cool on wire racks. Store in air tight containers with parchment paper between layers.

ALMOND BUTTER SHORTBREAD COOKIES "MANDELMUSSLOR"

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Grind the almonds in a food processor until very fine crumbs. Transfer to a bowl and pour over half of the almond extract. Stir to combine.
• Cream together the butter and sugar in a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, until light, fluffy and pale yellow, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg just until incorporated. Mix in the flour, ground almonds and the remaining almond extract on low speed. The dough should be quite stiff.
• Press the dough into shortbread molds, filling two-thirds full. Bake, in batches if needed, until golden brown and set, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, and then gently remove from the molds.

SHAMROCK COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, cream the shortening and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extract. Gradually add flour and salt. Tint with food coloring. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until easy to handle., On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a lightly floured 2-in. shamrock cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. If desired, sprinkle with colored sugar. , Bake until edges are lightly browned, 10-12 minutes. Cool for 1 minute before removing to wire racks.

ALMOND SHORTBREAD II

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and confectioners' sugar until very light. Gradually add the cornstarch, all purpose flour and nutmeg. Stir until well blended. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead for a few turns. Divide the mixture into 2 parts. Roll each part into a roll about 6 inches (15 cm) long. Wrap the rolls in plastic wrap or wax paper, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. These can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
• Unwrap the rolls and slice into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place onto the prepared cookie sheets. Gently press an almond onto the top of each cookie.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. When cookies are cooled, store in an airtight tin to preserve crispness.

ALMOND SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Place 9-inch-diameter metal pie pan in freezer to chill. Combine butter, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in processor. Blend until smooth, about 20 seconds. Add flour and cornstarch. Using on/off turns, process until dough clumps together. Press dough evenly onto bottom of chilled pie pan. Sprinkle almonds over; press almonds lightly into dough to adhere. Freeze until chilled, about 5 minutes.
• Bake shortbread until edges are golden brown, about 22 minutes. Transfer pan to rack. Cut warm shortbread into 8 wedges; cool completely in pan. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover; store at room temperature.)

ALMOND-SHORTBREAD SANDWICH COOKIES

Steps:

• Cookies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread almonds in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until noticeably darkened and fragrant, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack; let cool completely.
• Pulse almonds in a food processor until finely ground. Measure 1 1/2 cups almonds into a medium bowl; set remainder aside. Add flour and salt to bowl; whisk to combine.
• In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter with confectioners' sugar until smooth and well combined. Beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Gradually add almond-flour mixture, beating until dough just comes together (do not overmix). Turn dough out onto a work surface and divide in half. Shape each half into a 12-inch log (about 1 3/4 inches in diameter); wrap each log in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Measure 1/2 cup reserved almonds onto a sheet of parchment; roll each log in nuts to coat. Cut logs into 1/4-inch-thick slices, discarding ends. Transfer slices to parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Bake, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges are slightly browned, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheets to wire racks; let cool completely.
• Filling: Pulse remaining 3 cups reserved almonds and salt in a food processor on low speed, scraping down sides frequently. Mixture will look dry but continue pulsing until it reaches a smooth, spreadable consistency, 15 to 20 minutes.
• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together 1 cup almond butter (reserve remaining 1/2 cup for another use), confectioners' sugar, and butter until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip.
• Pipe a small amount of filling onto bottoms of half the cookies, then sandwich with remaining cookies. Filled cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

KETO-FRIENDLY* ALMOND SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In food processor, place almond flour, coconut flour, sugar replacement and salt. Pulse until combined. Add butter, cream cheese and almond extract; pulse 8 to 10 times or until dough begins to come together. Remove dough; shape into flattened disk. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate about 1 1/2 hours or until firm.
• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Place chilled dough between two pieces of parchment paper; roll into 10x8-inch rectangle, about 1/4-inch thick. Peel top piece of parchment paper off dough.
• Cut into 8 rows by 4 rows. Place rectangles 1 inch apart on ungreased large cookie sheets. Prick with fork, if desired.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.