Easy Chinese New Year Cookies Recipes

CHINESE BUTTER COOKIES

Steps:

• 1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• 2. In a standing electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar and cream until fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract. Slowly sift in the self-rising flour and beat until a smooth dough forms.
• 3. Add the dough to a cookie press and attach a star or flower-shape disk. Press the cookies onto the lined baking sheet, leaving 1 inch of space around each cookie.
• 4. Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden on top. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before storing. The cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.

PORTZELKY (NEW YEAR'S COOKIES)

Steps:

• Dissolve sugar in lukewarm water in a large bowl and sprinkle yeast over the top. Let yeast activate until it forms a creamy layer on top of the water, about 10 minutes.
• Rinse raisins and pat dry with paper towels. Stir raisins into yeast mixture; beat eggs, lukewarm milk, and salt into yeast mixture. Beat flour into liquid ingredients until dough is smooth. If dough is too sticky, beat in 1/4 cup more flour. Cover dough and set aside in a warm place to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Heat vegetable oil to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) in a large saucepan or deep fat fryer.
• Scoop up dough by tablespoon and drop, a few at a time, into the hot oil. Fry until lightly browned; drain on wire racks set over paper towels. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

EASY CHINESE NEW YEAR COOKIES

Steps:

• Place chocolate and butterscotch chips in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until melted, about 5 minutes. Stir in noodles and peanuts.
• Drop teaspoonfuls of the mixture onto waxed paper. Let cool and set before serving, about 30 minutes.

CHINESE ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Sift the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking soda and salt together into a large bowl. Whisk any bits of almond flour left in the sifter into the sifted flour mixture.
• Combine the butter and sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the almond extract and 1 egg yolk and beat until the mixture is smooth and combined, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Reduce the speed to medium low, add the flour mixture and beat until no streaks of flour remain, about 2 minutes.
• Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• When ready to bake, position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Whisk together the remaining egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Scoop the dough by tablespoons (you can use a 1/2-ounce ice cream scoop) and place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Roll each scoop into a ball and return it to the baking sheet. Flatten each with your palm into a 2-inch round. Gently press an almond onto each and brush with the egg wash.
• Bake, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the cookies are golden brown on the edges, 16 to 18 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 10 minutes.
• Store the cookies in a tightly sealed container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

LUNAR NEW YEAR ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• With a whisk, mix together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, salt and baking powder by hand.
• Cream together the sugar and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment on medium until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. With the mixer on, add the egg and continue mixing until fully incorporated. Add the vanilla and almond extract and paddle to combine. With the mixer off, add the dry ingredients at once and paddle on low until combined. Scrape down the paddle and bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is incorporated.
• Shape the dough into 12 balls by hand or with a cookie scoop. Chill in the freezer for 30 minutes or store frozen, wrapped well, for up to 2 weeks.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Space the dough balls 2 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake until the cookies begin to spread, 5 to 7 minutes. Top each cookie with an almond and continue to bake until golden brown on the edges, an additional 6 to 8 minutes. Cool and enjoy!