Almond Snowball Cookies Recipes

ALMOND SNOWBALL COOKIES RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a 3/4 size cookie sheet or 2 regular cookie sheets with parchment paper.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, cream together 1/2 lb butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla, until smooth.
• Switch to paddle attachment and gradually mix in 2 cups all purpose flour and 1/2 tsp salt. Once incorporated, add 1 cup almond meal and 1/2 Tbsp orange zest and mix until well blended. The dough will stick slightly to the spatula but not to finger tips. If very sticky, add 1-2 Tbsp more flour.
• Shape dough into 1-inch balls (a small ice cream scoop makes it easy and exact). Place them on prepared baking sheet 1 inch apart. You should get 38-40 cookies. Don't make them too large or they won't bake through properly. Bake 11-13 min, or until bottoms are golden and edges are barely golden (I bake 11 min for softer cookies). Remove from baking sheet and cool 5 min.
• Fill a bowl with powdered sugar and roll the cookies in it while they are still warm (not hot). Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool completely.
• Once cookies are at room temp, roll in powdered sugar again or dust the tops with a mini sieve for a snowy look.

ALMOND SNOWBALL COOKIES

Steps:

• Pulse the almonds and sugar in a food processor until very finely ground.
• Add the butter and process until smooth, about 1 minute.
• Scrape the dough off the inside of the bowl,If needed.
• Add the vanilla and almond extracts and pulse to combine.
• Add flour and salt and pulse to make a soft dough.
• Turn the dough out onto a large piece of waxed paper and roll into a log about 15 inches long and 1 and 1/2 inches wide.
• Wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cut the chilled dough into 1/2 inch pieces and roll by hand into balls.
• Space the cookies evenly on the prepated baking sheets until slightly golden, rotating the sheets once, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Put the confectioners sugar in a pie plate.
• Briefly cool the cookies on a rack, then gently toss in the confectioner's sugar until evenly coated.
• Return to rack, cool to room temperature and then toss again in the con- fectioners sugar.

ALMOND SNOWBALL COOKIES

Steps:

• Pulse the almonds and sugar in a food processor until very finely ground. Add the butter and process until smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape the dough off the inside of the bowl, if needed. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and pulse to combine. Add the flour and salt and pulse to make a soft dough. Turn the dough out onto a large piece of waxed paper and roll into a log about 15 inches long and 1 1/2 inches wide. Wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Cut the chilled dough into 1/2-inch pieces and roll by hand into balls. Space the cookies evenly on the prepared baking sheets and bake until slightly golden, rotating the sheets once, 15 to 20 minutes. Put the confectioners' sugar in a pie plate. Briefly cool the cookies on a rack, then gently toss in the confectioners' sugar until evenly coated. Return to rack, cool to room temperature, and then toss again in the confectioners' sugar.

TOASTED ALMOND SNOWBALLS

Steps:

• In a medium skillet over medium heat, toast the almond flour, stirring constantly, until golden brown and fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Immediately pour flour into a small bowl to cool. Watch carefully: Once the flour begins to toast, it will happen very quickly.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a handheld electric mixer, beat butter and 1 cup confectioners' sugar on low speed until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. Beat in egg yolk, brandy and almond extract until well combined.
• Reduce speed to low and gradually add all-purpose flour, salt and toasted almond flour until just incorporated.
• Scrape the dough into an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• When ready to bake, heat oven to 350 degrees and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Using your hands, roll dough into 1-inch balls and place balls 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 18 minutes, until cookies begin to brown at edges. Rotate cookie sheets halfway through for even baking.
• Place 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar into a sieve. As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, sift a thick layer of confectioners' sugar over the tops. Once cookies are cool, put remaining 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar (plus any sugar in the sieve) into a shallow bowl and toss cookies again in confectioners' sugar.

ALMOND SNOWBALL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F; have ready a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat liner.
• In a medium-sized mixing bowl with an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt together just until they form soft peaks, then sprinkle in the sugar and continue beating until peaks are stiff.
• Add almond extract and give it a quick buzz with the beaters just to incorporate it.
• Now, with a wooden spoon (or rubber spatula), stir in half the coconut; then the nutmeg; then the flour; then finally fold in the remaining coconut.
• Using a scoop or just working with two spoons, form snowballs a couple of inches apart on your cookie sheets--I aim for about 10 and so keep them on one sheet; if you want more, you'll need more than one baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven for approximately 15 minutes (less time if you make small ones) or until the snowballs are just a light golden colour.
• Remove from oven and, if desired, press half of a candied red cherry in the top; it looks pretty but it isn't necessary.
• Remove to a cooling rack and let cool.