Crisp Almond Cookies Recipe 455

THIN, CRISP ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Cover a baking sheet with plastic wrap (or line a 6"x9" glass baking dish with plastic wrap).
• In a medium saucepan over low heat, stir the butter, sugar, cinnamon and water until the butter mrlts; don't let it boil.
• Most of the sugar will 'not' be disolved.
• Remove the pan from the heat.
• Stir in the flour, baking soda and almonds. Mix well.
• Cool 5 minutes.
• On the sheet covered with plastic wrap, shape the dough into a 5"x8" rectangle that is 1" high, rounding out the edges and corners slightly - OR - press the dough into a 6"x9" dish.
• Cover with more plastic wrap and chill at least 4 hours or overnight.
• Set the oven at 325°.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Lift the block of dough from the baking sheet (or dish).
• Set it on a cutting board, discarding the plastic wrap.
• Using a long, sharp knife, slice the dough crosswise into rectangles as thin as a coin.
• Space the cookies on a bakiing sheet about 1/2" apart.
• Bake for 8 minutes, until the cookies feel slightly firm and the undersides are golden brown.
• With a wide spatula, turn the cookies over and bake 8 minutes more.
• Leave the cookies on the sheet to cool for 5 minutes.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Store in an airtight container.

CRISPY ALMOND BUTTER THINS (COOKIES)

Steps:

• Using a heavy duty stand mixer cream butter with sugar and almond extract on medium speed until well combined (about 5 minutes or until no sugar granules should remain).
• Beat in egg yolks until combined.
• In a small bowl combine the flour with salt until combined; add to the creamed mixture and mix on low speed until combined.
• Remove to a surface and work the dough using with clean hands until smooth.
• Divide the dough evenly in half.
• Shape into two logs, wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap and chill for minimum 3 hours or until very hard.
• Set oven to 350°F.
• Set oven rack to second-lowest position.
• Unwrap the dough log then slice into about 1/4-inch slices (the thinner that you slice these the crispier they will be when they bake).
• Place onto lightly greased baking sheet.
• Bake until lightly browned around the edges (about 12-15 minutes, the cookies will not be crispy if you under bake them).
• Cool slightly on baking sheet (the cookies will harden even more upon sitting) then coat in sugar.