Chinese Almond Cakes

This take on the Chinese almond cakes delivers butter cookies topped with an almond.

• Calories: 185 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 egg yolk
• ¾ cup white sugar
• ¾ cup butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons water
• 36 blanched almonds

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Sift flour, sugar, salt and baking powder together in a large bowl. Using pastry blender or knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.

Step 2

Beat the egg together with 2 tablespoons of the water and the almond extract. Add this to the flour mixture and mix with a fork until dough leaves the sides of the bowl.

Step 3

On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough until it is smooth. Wrap it in foil or cling-wrap and refrigerate for one hour.

Step 4

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 5

Form dough into 1 inch balls and place them 3 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie to about 1/4 inch thick and press an almond into the center of each. Beat egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water and brush on cookies.

Step 6

Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove to wire rack to cool.