French Almond Cookies Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
• Place the almonds on a sheet pan and toast them for 5 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned, tossing once to toast evenly. Place 1 cup of the toasted almonds in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and chop them very coarsely. (Reserve the rest for later.) Combine the chopped almonds with the flour and set aside.
• Meanwhile, place the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, orange juice concentrate, orange zest, and vanilla in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Off the heat, gradually whisk in the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the reserved toasted almonds.
• With 2 teaspoons (tableware rather than measuring spoons), drop rounded spoonfuls of batter (about 1 1/2 inches wide) onto the prepared sheet pans, spacing them at least 2 inches apart. (I put 8 on each pan.) Bake for 7 to 9 minutes, until the edges are golden brown, turning the pans in the oven to brown evenly. Allow to cool and transfer to a wire rack. Repeat for the remaining batter. Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container between layers of wax or parchment paper.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream the shortening, 1/2 cup sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extract. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. , Shape into 1-in. balls. Roll in remaining sugar. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with the bottom of a glass. Press three almond slices into the center of each. , Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together flours, cornstarch, baking powder and salt.
• In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter and granulated sugar until lightened in color and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in egg yolk and almond extract until combined, about 20 seconds. With the mixer running on low, add flour mixture, beating until just incorporated. Do not overmix.
• Divide dough into two balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball into a 1 1/2-inch-thick log. (If the dough is too soft to work with, chill it for 20 to 30 minutes before forming it into logs.) Wrap logs tightly in parchment paper or plastic wrap, and refrigerate until very firm, at least 2 hours or overnight.
• When you are ready to bake the cookies, heat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Use large, sharp knife to cut each log into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Place cookies 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake until cookie edges and bottoms are golden brown, about 15 to 22 minutes. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the icing: In a large bowl, whisk together confectioners' sugar, melted butter, 1 tablespoon buttermilk, vanilla and almond extracts. If the icing isn't thin enough to drizzle, add more buttermilk. It should be a little thicker than heavy cream.
• Using a fork, drizzle icing all over the cooled cookies, then top with almond slices if you like. Let the icing set for at least 1 hour, then store at room temperature in an airtight container. The cookies will keep for at least 3 days.