Egyptian El Menenas Almond Paste Cookies Recipes

EGYPTIAN EL MENENAS (ALMOND PASTE COOKIES)

Steps:

• Add sugar to the almond paste; mix well. Add 1 teaspoons orange flower water and cinnamon to taste (at least 1/2 tsp). Blend well into a smooth paste.
• In a bowl, combine melted butter with flour. Add the other teaspoons of orange flower water. Knead into a dough that holds together. Do not add any water unless absolutely necessary.
• Form balls about 1.5 - 2 inches round. Make a depression in the center of each ball with your thumb. Fill hole with almond paste.
• Place on a greased baking sheet and bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until nicely browned. Sprinkle with grandulated sugar.
• VARIATION: A date filling can be substituted for the almond one. Chop 1/2 lb. pitted dates and combine into a paste with 4 T. soft butter.

THE BEST ALMOND PASTE BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Beat together butter, flour, oil, first cup of sugar, baking powder, and first round of eggs until smooth and set aside.
• Beat together the almond paste, second cup of sugar, second round of eggs and almond flavoring until smooth.
• Combine both mixtures.
• Grease a 9x13" pan (Pam is fine), and evenly pour in mixture.
• Bake for 30 to 45 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.
• Enjoy!

DATE COOKIES (MENENA)

Steps:

• Soak dates in cold water for 2 hours. Drain, pat dry on paper towels, then chop fine in food processor.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil.
• Cream butter or margarine in food processor or electric mixer or by hand until fluffly. Add sugar and mix until incorporated. Add flour gradually, then water and orange flower water. Mixture should be very soft but not sticky.
• Roll lumps of dough into little balls, hollowing out as you go to make room for the filling. Stuff each with a little of date mixture, less than teaspoon. Seal opening gently with fingers and shape into round, flattened dumpling 2 inches in diameter. Gently indent tops of each with tines of fork and arrange cookies on prepared baking sheet.
• Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned. Allow to cool, then dust with confectioners' sugar and serve.

ALMOND COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Blend together butter and sugars for a few minutes, until thoroughly combined.
• Beat eggs separately, then stream into the bowl while running the mixer on low. Continue blending and add almond extract until combined.
• Add one cup of flour to the bowl while blending, then add baking powder, then gradually add remaining flour until fully combined. Blend in almonds until distributed evenly.
• Using a tablespoon or small cookie scoop, place dough on ungreased cookie sheets about three inches apart to prevent cookies from bleeding together. Only bake one rack of cookies at a time to ensure even baking.
• Bake 10-12 minutes or until browned around the edges. Remove baking sheets from oven and allow to rest for a few minutes before removing to racks to cool. Remove cookies carefully, since the high butter content means they'll still be soft until they cool completely.
• Repeat baking remaining cookies, ensuring that baking sheets are only on one rack.