Almond Cookies with a Cherry on Top

Season’s Greetings

This recipe is taken from the book The Baking Bible which features assorted recipes for everyday baking!These cookies looked so pretty and mouthwatering that I felt I had to make them this Christmas.The name is also apt for them as the Cherry gives them their grace and beauty.

The recipe calls for Glace´Cherries which were not available here.I opted for Maraschino Cherries but I had the green ones instead of the Red.I cannot agree more that Red would look more festive in relation to the upcoming holidays but I had to make these cookies and I had to make do with the green ones.I went by the thought as who cares about colour when taste of Cherry is what you want.The cookies look pretty and mouthwatering and that is all which matters!

If you get Red Glace´or Maraschino Cherries at your location please use them as the colour looks fabulous!

Preparation Time : 45 minutes – 1 hour

Makes : 25 Cookies

INGREDIENTS

200 gms unsalted butter – cut into cubes

90 gms Caster Sugar

1/2 tsp Almond/Vanilla Extract

280 gms plain flour(Maida)

2 tsp Baking Powder

25 gms Almond Powder

Glace´Cherry halves to decorate

METHOD

Preheat oven to 180°C and prepare 2 cookie sheets by lining them with Parchment Paper/greasing with butter/spraying them with baking spray.

Sift flour and baking powder thrice in a mixing bowl.

Put the butter in a large saucepan and melt on the lowest heat possible.Stir it with a wooden spatula and add the sugar and extract.Mix well and let it cool for 5 minutes.

Add the liquid to the flour and mix well to form a dough.Pinch out small portions and roll them between fingers to get a smooth round.Put them on the baking sheets and press them with your fingers to form 1 inch long cookies.Flatten them with the back of a “katori” or small bowl and stick each half of the cherries on the middle of the cookies.

Bake the cookies for 15 – 17 minutes till they turn golden brown on the top.Take out and cool on wire racks so that they become crisp and crunchy on cooling.Cool to room temperature.

Store in airtight jars or tins.Serve with tea,coffee or with the traditional Christmas Eggnog for a festive treat!

Season’s Greetings

Shots of the lovely cookies: