Fig Smushed Anise Almond Cookies Recipes

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Line the bottom with an 8-by-20-inch piece of parchment paper, allowing the excess paper to hang over the sides.
• For the crust: Whisk the all-purpose flour, almond flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl.
• Beat the sugar and butter using an electric hand mixer until combined in a large bowl. Beat in the egg, cream and vanilla until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and beat until the mixture forms into clumps. Press the clumps together to form a dough. Knead the dough for 30 seconds and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• For the filling: Place 1/4 cup water, the figs, orange juice, vanilla extract and orange zest in a food processor. Blend until the figs are finely ground, about 2 minutes. Add the almond butter and blend until incorporated. Add the almonds and pulse until combined.
• Remove the plastic from the dough and cut in half. Roll out 1 piece of dough into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle on a well-floured work surface. Cut the dough in half lengthwise and then in half crosswise to make 4 equal-size pieces of dough. Transfer the dough pieces to the prepared baking dish using a spatula, and arrange in a single layer. Pinch the edges of the dough together to seal. Spoon the filling onto the dough. Spread the filling evenly over the dough using damp hands. Smooth the top of the filling using a rubber spatula. Roll out the remaining dough into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle. Cut into 4 equal pieces and place on top of the filling, pinching the edges of the dough together to seal. Bake until golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Place the baking dish on a wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Using the excess parchment paper as handles, remove and place on a cutting board. Cut the cookie into twenty-four 1 1/2-inch-square pieces and serve.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix flour, almonds and salt, set aside.
• Beat butter and sugar until creamy.
• Blend in egg and extract.
• Gradually mix in flour mixture.
• Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 10 - 12 minutes until golden brown.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk eggs, cold water and vanilla until blended. Place flour, confectioners' sugar, baking powder and salt in a food processor; pulse until blended. Add butter; pulse until crumbly. While pulsing, add egg mixture just until combined., Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; cover. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll., Wipe food processor clean. Add figs and almonds; pulse until chopped. Add preserves and juice; pulse until combined., Preheat oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough into a 10x8-in. rectangle; cut each lengthwise into four 2-in.-wide strips., Spread about 2 tablespoons filling down center of each strip. Fold dough over filling; pinch edges to seal. Roll each gently to shape into a log; cut crosswise into 1-in. pieces., Place 1 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until light brown, 10-12 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., In a small bowl, mix glaze ingredients until smooth. Drizzle over cookies. Let stand until set.

Steps:

• For cookie dough:.
• Combine flour, sugar, salt, baking powder.
• Cut butter into flour mixture.
• Add eggs, milk, and mix.
• Knead dough until smooth. I use my Kitchen Aid heavy duty mixer with the kneading hook.
• Let dough rest 1 hour.
• Roll out dough and cut in 2x12inch wide strips. Place roll of fig filling in center of strip. Fold dough over filling and seal. Cut into 2 inch pieces. Place on greased cookie sheet and bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees.
• For fillling:.
• Mix all filling ingredients and cool in refrigerator for one hour. After one hour, put flour on a smooth surface and take about a cup of filling and roll into a small cigar shape. Make it long enough to place in the 2x12 inch strips of dough.(The floured surface makes it easy to roll the filling. Also flour your hands. This filling freezes well and can be used for next year's St. Joeseph's Table or Christmas.) Repeat for each strip of cookie dough.

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.