Iranian Almond Cookies Recipes

IRANIAN ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Oven rack in center. oven to 350º line 2 baking sheets with parchment In a mixing bow, lightly beat the egg whites, sugar, salt, and rose water until frothy. fold in the almond and cardamom with a rubber spatula until a soft dough is formed Use an icecream scoop to scoop up some dough (the size of a walnut). Drop on baking sheet. Continue leaving 2.5 inches around each piece. Decorate with almond slices \ rose petals Bake for 15-20 minutes until cookies are slightly golden Remove and allow to cool. Serve or store in an air-tight glass container. Serve with tea. Nush-e Jan!

THE REBBETZIN CHEF'S PERSIAN WALNUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, mix together the ground walnuts, 3 egg yolks, sugar, cardamom, baking soda and rose water until well blended. Roll teaspoon sized pieces of dough into balls and place onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Cookies should be spaced 2 inches apart. Whisk together the remaining egg yolk and water using a fork. Press a walnut piece into each cookie, then brush with the egg yolk glaze.
• Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. The cookies will appear soft and undercooked but take heart, they will harden considerably when cooled. Allow them to cool on the baking sheets for at least 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

IRANIAN RICE COOKIES (NAN-E BERENJI)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a fine sieve with four layers of cheesecloth and set over a small liquid measuring cup. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high heat until beginning to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until foamy, stirring occasionally, until butter turns golden brown with a nutty aroma, and milk solids separate into brown specks that sink to bottom, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat and strain through prepared sieve, leaving solids behind. Set aside to cool slightly.
• In another small saucepan over medium heat, stir together sugar and 2 tablespoons water until sugar has dissolved, then transfer to a large bowl. Let cool slightly, then add rose water and stir to combine.
• Add yolk to sugar mixture and whisk until light and slightly thickened. Continue whisking and slowly drizzle in strained brown butter until thick and fully incorporated. In a medium bowl, combine flours, cardamom, and salt. Add to brown butter mixture and stir until thoroughly incorporated.
• Roll dough into 1 1/2-inch balls and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced about 1 inch apart. Imprint each ball with the grooved side of a meat mallet, pressing to 1/4 inch thick. Dust mallet with rice flour as needed to prevent sticking. Bake, rotating halfway through, until edges of cookies just turn light golden, about 16 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

ITALIAN ALMOND COOKIES II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.
• In a large bowl, use your hands to mix together the almond paste, flour, egg whites, white sugar and confectioners' sugar until well blended. The mixture will be very sticky. Place the sliced almonds into a small bowl. Scoop out rounded teaspoonfuls of the dough and drop them into the almonds. Roll until completely coated. Place 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Cool on cookie sheets for a few minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

PERSIAN COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream wet ingredients. Mix dry ingredients then combine with wet ingredients.
• I like to use 1/2 butter and 1/2 shortening or 1/2 butter and 1/2 coconut oil. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

PERSIAN COOKIES (NANE SHIRINI)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 235.
• In a large bowl, sift or mix with a fork, 2 cups of flour and 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
• In a separate bowl, cream thoroughly 1 cup of shortening and 1 cup of granulated sugar.
• Blend in 2 egg yolks, vanilla extract, almond extract, and lemon extract. Mix well.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix until dough is well blended.
• Roll dough into round balls with hands, using about 1 level teaspoon of dough for each ball.
• Place on an ungreased baking sheet and flatten slightly with a spoon.
• Bake for 20 minutes.

ITALIAN ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Put half the almonds and half the sugar in the bowl of a food processor. Process to obtain a coarse meal. Repeat with remaining almonds and sugar.
• Put egg whites and almond extract in a medium bowl. Using a wire whisk, beat whites until soft peaks form. Add the almond-sugar mixture to the whites and use a rubber spatula to incorporate the egg whites until you obtain a doughlike consistency.
• Use a spoon or small ice cream scoop to make 24 little blobs weighing about 1/2 ounce/20 grams. Roll each between 2 palms to make smooth spheres, then flatten them slightly. Roll them in a bowl of confectioners' sugar to coat well and place 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Use the end of a wooden spoon to make little round dents in each cookie. Fill dents with whole, unblanched almonds or Amarena cherries, if desired. Alternatively, leave cookies plain with smooth tops. Leave the tray of unbaked cookies at room temperature, uncovered, for 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake until lightly browned, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

PERSIAN ALMOND BRITTLE

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with parchment; set aside. Dissolve saffron in rose water; set aside. Fill a bowl with ice water; set aside.
• Place sugar, honey, and oil in a heavy medium saucepan over high heat, and stir constantly until sugar is melted.
• Stir in the almonds, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened and is golden, about 2 minutes.
• Add the saffron mixture, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is golden brown. Drop a spoonful of the mixture into the ice water. If it hardens immediately, the mixture is ready. Reduce heat to the lowest setting.
• Quickly drop mixture by tablespoons onto the paper, leaving a 1-inch space between. Sprinkle immediately with the chopped pistachios. Cool completely before serving. Store in an airtight container.