Chinese Almond Cookies

Total Time: 43 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 13 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds, finely chopped
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 48 whole blanched almonds
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon water

Recipe

• 1 preheat the oven to 350°f, and mix the first four ingredients - the flour, baking powder, salt and chopped slivered almonds - in a medium-sized bowl.
• 2 with an electric mixer on medium speed, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until the mixture is light and fluffy; add the egg and almond extract and beat until the ingredients are all well-combined.
• 3 reduce the electric mixer speed to low and blend in the flour mixture.
• 4 roll the dough into 11/4-inch balls, and place the balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. flatten the balls slightly and press an almond into the centre of each cookie.
• 5 whisk the egg yolk and water together in a cup and lightly brush over the cookies.
• 6 bake the cookies for 11-15 minutes, until just set, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.
• 7 notes: if you prefer, in step four, use several slivered almonds instead of the blanched whole almonds.