Almond Shortbread Cookies Mantecaditos Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Line an un-greased cookie sheet with parchment paper (optional). With a hand or stand mixer, cream butter and shortening until creamy and well combined (about 2 minutes). Add sugar and mix till creamy and fluffy (about 1 minute). Add the pinch of salt, vanilla and almond extract. Mix to combine. With mixer on medium-low, mix in the flour by ¼ cup. The mixture will look coarse and that's what we want! Take a tablespoon of the cookie dough and form it into a ball and place it on the cookie sheet. With your thumb, press on the cookie to flatten it slightly and create a little "well." Don't worry if they crack on the sides, they will turn out pretty. In the little well, drop a piece of guava or sprinkles. Bake in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes. After 10 minutes, check the cookies for doneness. The cookies will not brown on top, but the sides will get golden brown and that's what you want. Place them on a cooling rack for 5 to 10 minutes.

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.

Steps:

• Place your oven rack in the middle on your oven and preheat to 350°.
• In a medium bowl combine flour and nutmeg-set aside.
• In a large bowl beat butter, shortening and extracts and beat until smooth.
• Gradually add sugar and cream.
• Blend in flour-dough should be slightly moist.
• Using teaspoons and not your hands form into balls.
• Place on ungreased cookie sheet and press down slightly.
• Cut each cherry into 8 pieces and place a sliver on each cookie.
• Bake for 20 minutes and cool on a rack.