This easy recipe for almond cookies is perfect for Lunar New Year celebrations, or any time you want a different kind of sugar cookie. Bet you can’t eat just one!
This recipe for sweet little almond cookies came via my teeny tiny role in the Lunar New Year dinner extravaganza we just had.
A Lunar New Year feast is definitely one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday night, especially when someone else is doing 99% of the cooking (more on that later) and all I am responsible for is bringing easy little almond cookies and my appetite. And while I highly recommend these for your own Lunar New Year festivities, they are also an extremely swell variation on the classic sugar cookie. Let’s make them!
But before I get to the recipe, I have to give a shout-out to the extraordinary cooks who spent days and days prepping for our feast, and then whipped it up gloriously as we watched in anticipation…
My beautiful mama, who started this Lunar New Year tradition in our family DECADES ago, and my beautiful little sis, who clearly learned it well. Because those are some rocking good scallion pancakes she is holding there, all ready to be fried up and gobbled down.
The excitement was in the air, and I had my favorite red shoes on, because you are supposed to wear lucky red for Lunar New Year.
Meanwhile, the evening started off with a delectable table of appetizers. Those scallion pancakes. Crispy duck. Spareribs. Pork and shrimp dumplings. Candied walnuts. I’m pretty sure there was more…I lost count due to being in a delirium of happiness.
And then came the main course. Beef with scallions, chicken with broccoli, pork lo mein, fried rice, loofah, and various other scrumptious things. Oh my goodness.
Luckily and miraculously, folks had saved room for some almond cookies. Thank goodness, because as the food blogger in the crowd, I had a reputation to uphold and it was clear that I was completely out-matched here.
Happily, the almond cookies, which are an almond spin on traditional sugar cookies, were a hit. The dough is a quick combo of butter, almond meal, flour, sugar, eggs and some almond extract that you chill for a couple of hours and then form into little balls with an almond pressed into the center.
They are very modest looking little cookies, but I’ll just tell you now that the Southern husband…not usually an eater of multiple cookies…ate multiple cookies. Perhaps double digits of cookies. Which made for a very happy start to the New Year…and now on to planning the St. Patrick’s Day feast for next month!
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Almond Cookies
Prep Time: 20 minutes- Cook Time: 72 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 32 minutes
- Yield: About 48 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
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Pin RecipeIngredients
- 2 sticks (one cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- 1 1/3 cups almond flour (I like Bob’s Red Mill)
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 3/4 cups flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- Whole raw almonds
Instructions
- Beat butter and almond meal in a mixer until well combined, about 2 minutes.
- Add the egg and the almond extract and beat for another 30 seconds.
- Put the flour, sugar and baking soda in a medium bowl and stir with a whisk until thoroughly combined. Add to the butter mixture and beat on low speed until dough comes together.
- Form dough into a large ball and cover with plastic wrap. Chill for two hours.
- Preheat the oven to 325 and line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Roll tablespoon sized pieces of the chilled dough into balls and press them down into round cookie shapes. Press an almond into the center of each one and sprinkle with a little sugar.
- Bake for 18 minutes or until they just start to turn a tiny bit of golden. Cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheets and then finish cooling them on racks.
Wow, your fam sure knows how to whip together a meal! Those pancakes look perfect. And almond cookies are the perfect way to round it all out. I’m such a fan of all things almond!
We do love our eats – and of course getting together! Those pancakes are my favorite!
Sounds like your celebration was a blast! How fun! And these cookies sound delicious, Kate! My aunt makes a similar version and it’s one of my favorites. Love the ease of these, too!
It was so much fun! And I sure got off lightly by only being responsible for these cookies – they are SO easy! :)
Looks like you all enjoyed a wonderful celebration Kate! These cookies sound delicious! On my list!
It was so much fun – oh, those scallion pancakes!
Wow, feel free to invite me to your Chinese New year party next year, Kate!! :) That is a killer spread of food! Love these little almond cookies! Honestly I could have made a meal out of these! Love the video!! I forget to turn my phone sideways too. ;) Cheers, friend! *hugs*
Oh my gosh, we would have such fun together!! Maybe we can remind each other to turn the dang phone sideways? xoxo
I love it all …. the cookies and the post! These cookies were truly fabulous.
I have to tell you, the entertainment was very excellent. As always. :) xo
What a great tradition! & these cookies are a great addition. I bet they are delicious :)
Oh, they truly ARE! And so easy. :)
Oh ma goodness, the kid’s got some moves! The impromptu chicken move was pretty great! These cookies sound absolutely delicious! I love anything almond flavored (I think it’s highly underrated, why does vanilla get to have all the fun?) Also, I’ve never celebrated Chinese New Year before, but I’m definitely thinking I should start! Everything looked amazing!
He’s definitely got the beat, that young man…and I highly, highly recommend an annual Chinese New Year’s feast. Especially one that is a group effort on the cooking!
hooray for family time, fun hats, and cookies!
I think it was the hats that pushed this over the line from good to great! :)
How fun! I love these little cookies. A perfect way to end a meal!
And what a meal it was!!
I’ve always wanted to try making almond cookies, yours look fabulous!
They are my new favorite sugar cookie! :)
Sounds like you had some seriously rockin’ Chinese New Year celebrations, Kate! That picture of your buffet table looks amazing! We don’t celebrate Chinese New Year but now I’m seriously wondering why because it looks delicious and like lots of fun. I bet these delicious cookies were the perfect way to top things off :D
Oh, you HAVE to add it to your list of foodie holidays – it’s the best!!
Waw , interesting , maybe I ‘ll try it at home with family. Pancake is the best.
Love the pancakes!
Bought the almond flour. Need butter. Will let you know how they come out. Almond cookies are my FAVORITE!
I will gladly bring a dish to share if you invite me next time.
Can’t wait to hear how they turn out for you! :)
its very delicious cake recipes…will try next time..must try
What kind of butter salted or unsalted??
Oh and also what kind of sugar powdered sugar or granulated sugar??
Hi Amy! Unsalted butter if you have it (although honestly, I’ve made them with both and both are fine) and granulated sugar. I’ve adjusted the recipe to specify both. Happy cookie baking!!
★★★★★
Thank you so much for answering me back! I have another question, I would like to make these for my grandparents and my elderly neighbors but as you might know they have weak teeth so I would like to know if the cookies turn out crispy or moist? And if Its better to give them the cookies the day of or after I baked them?
Hi Amy! They are more moist than crispy, I would say, and definitely better to give them the day of. Happy baking!